剖 meaning and stroke order
To bisect, to dissect, to slice
How to write 剖, stroke by stroke
10 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 剖
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to cut open
- to analyze
- Taiwan pr. [pou3]
How 剖 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Knife.
刂 gives the meaning and 咅 hints at the sound.
Radical: 刂 (knife), shared by 71 characters on this site.
How to remember 剖
The right side 刂 is a knife, which gives the meaning of cutting. The left side 咅 (pǒu) gives the sound, so picture a knife slicing something open down the middle.
剖 (pōu) is mostly used in set words rather than alone, like 解剖 (jiěpōu) for dissection and 剖腹产 (pōufùchǎn) for a cesarean birth. It can also mean to analyze something carefully, as in 剖析 (pōuxī). Example: 她是剖腹产生的孩子。 (Tā shì pōufùchǎn shēng de háizi.) She was born by cesarean section.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 剖 with 部 (bù, part, section), which has the same left side but 阝 on the right instead of the knife 刂. Also note the tone: mainland standard is first tone pōu, not third tone pǒu, though you may hear pǒu in Taiwan.
Common words with 剖
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 解剖 | jiěpōu | to dissect (an animal); to analyze | HSK 7-9 |
| 剖腹产 | pōufùchǎn | cesarean birth | |
| 剖腹 | pōufù | to cut open the abdomen; to disembowel |
剖 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 剖
How many strokes are in 剖?
剖 is written with 10 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 剖 mean?
剖 (pōu) means to bisect, to dissect, to slice. A common word with it is 解剖 (jiěpōu), meaning "to dissect (an animal); to analyze".
How do you pronounce 剖?
剖 is pronounced pōu, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 剖?
The radical of 剖 is 刂, which carries the idea of "knife". Dictionaries list 剖 under this radical.
Is 剖 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 剖 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 剖 and 切?
切 (qiē) is the everyday word for cutting or slicing food and objects. 剖 (pōu) specifically means cutting something open to see inside, so it appears in medical or analytical contexts like 解剖 (jiěpōu).
Can 剖 be used to talk about analyzing ideas?
Yes. In words like 剖析 (pōuxī, to analyze in depth) and 解剖 (jiěpōu) used figuratively, it means taking an issue apart to examine it. This use is common in formal writing and commentary.