裂缝 (liè fèng) — (noun) crack, crevice; (verb) to crack, to deve…

Definition

裂缝 names the crack itself — used as a noun for a fissure on a wall or ground (counted with 道). It also works as a verb ('to crack'); 裂 is the bare verb 'to split/break open', and 裂痕 is more often a rift (in relationships) or surface crack.

noun

crackcrevice

verb

to crackto develop a crack

Measure word · 道

Examples

裂缝。
Qiáng shàng yǒu yí dào liè fèng.
There is a crack on the wall.
裂缝，。
Dì miàn liè fèng le, zǒu lù yào xiǎo xīn.
The ground has cracked; be careful when walking.
裂缝。
Bēi zi shàng de liè fèng hěn xiǎo.
The crack on the cup is very small.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

裂liècrack

缝fèngseam

Both 裂 (crack) and 缝 (seam/crack) point to a split, so 裂缝 means a crack.

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.

列衣裂

Meaning part形符xíngfú

衣衣yīclothes

Sound part声符shēngfú

列

列liè裂liè

Same sound today

裂 combines 衣 (clothes) with 列 for the sound. The picture of 列 shows bones cut by a blade and lined up, and the whole writes the idea of cutting and tearing clothes.

Open 裂 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 縫; 缝 is its simplified writing.

糹逢縫

Meaning part形符xíngfú

糹Written in full as糸mì

Sound part声符shēngfú

逢

逢féng縫fèng(r)

Same sound today

The traditional form 縫 pairs 糸 with 逢; 逢 gives the sound, and 糸 fits the sense. The simplified 缝 is a shorthand.

Open 缝 →