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破碎 (pò suì) — to shatter, to break into pieces

Definition

Used for things that physically shatter (glass, mirrors) and metaphorically for hopes or confidence falling apart. 破灭 is reserved for illusions/dreams, while 破碎 can apply to both physical and emotional states.

verb
to shatterto break into pieces

Examples

  • ，破碎。
    Dì zhèn shí, xǔ duō bō li chuāng dōu pò suì le.
    During the earthquake, many glass windows shattered.
  • 破碎。
    Tā de xìn xīn chè dǐ pò suì le.
    His confidence was completely shattered.
  • ，破碎。
    Jìng zi diào zài dì shàng, pò suì chéng le suì piàn.
    The mirror fell on the ground and shattered into pieces.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

破pòbreak
碎suìinto pieces

The action 破, breaking, leads to 碎, into pieces, to mean shatter.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
石石shí
Sound part声符shēngfú
皮
皮pí破pò
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

破 has 石 (stone) as its meaning part and 皮 as its sound part.

Open 破 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
石石shístone
Sound part声符shēngfú
卒
卒zú碎suì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

碎 pairs 石 (stone) with 卒, which gives the sound; the stone part is tied to the sense of breaking or smashing.

Open 碎 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Change & Process

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