道破 (dào pò) — to point out frankly; to lay bare (a secret or truth)

Definition

A formal verb meaning to lay bare or expose a hidden truth or secret directly. Note the object is something concealed — a secret, flaw, or real intention — not just 'to say'.

verb
to point out franklyto lay bare (a secret or truth)

Examples

  • 道破。
    Tā yì yǔ dào pò le wèn tí de guān jiàn.
    He hit the nail on the head about the key point of the problem.
  • 道破。
    Tā de fā yán dào pò le gōng sī de nèi bù máo dùn.
    Her speech laid bare the internal conflicts of the company.
  • 道破，。
    Bú yào dào pò bié rén de xīn shì, gěi bié rén liú diǎn miàn zi.
    Don't point out others' hidden feelings—leave them some face.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

道dàosay
破pòbreak open

道 (say) + 破 (break open) means to lay bare a secret.

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
行行xíngstreet
止止zhǐfoot
Sound part声符shēngfú
𩠐
首shǒu道dào
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

Early 道 showed a street 行, a foot 止, and a part written 首 or 𩠐; the right part of 行 later disappeared.

Open 道 →

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 →

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