割 meaning and stroke order
To cut; to cut apart
How to write 割, stroke by stroke
12 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
Meaning of 割
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to cut
- to cut apart
How 割 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Knife.
刂 gives the meaning and 害 hints at the sound.
Radical: 刂 (knife), shared by 71 characters on this site.
How to remember 割
割 is a pictophonetic character: the knife radical 刂 on the right gives the meaning "cut," and 害 (hài) on the left was chosen as a sound hint. Picture a knife doing harm (害) as it slices something apart.
割 means to cut with a blade, especially slicing through grass, crops, or flesh, and it also appears in abstract senses like dividing or ceding territory. It shows up mostly in compounds such as 收割 (shōugē, to harvest) and 割草机 (gēcǎojī, lawn mower). Example: 他在院子里割草。(Tā zài yuànzi lǐ gē cǎo.) He is mowing the grass in the yard.
Common mistake: Learners often read 割 as hài because of the 害 component, but it is pronounced gē with a first tone. Also do not confuse it with 害 (hài, harm) when writing: 割 must have the knife 刂 on the right.
Common words with 割
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 切割 | qiēgē | to cut | HSK 7-9 |
| 分割 | fēngē | to cut up; to break up | HSK 7-9 |
| 任人宰割 | rènrén-zǎigē | to get trampled on (idiom); to be taken advantage of | HSK 7-9 |
| 割断 | gēduàn | to cut off; to sever | |
| 收割 | shōugē | to harvest; to reap | |
| 割伤 | gēshāng | to gash; to cut | |
| 阉割 | yāngē | to castrate; fig. to emasculate | |
| 割草机 | gēcǎojī | lawn mower (machine) | |
| 割喉 | gēhóu | to slit sb's throat | |
| 割草 | gēcǎo | mow grass | |
| 割礼 | gēlǐ | circumcision (male or female) |
割 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 割
How many strokes are in 割?
割 is written with 12 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 割 mean?
割 (gē) means to cut; to cut apart. A common word with it is 切割 (qiēgē), meaning "to cut".
How do you pronounce 割?
割 is pronounced gē, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 割?
The radical of 割 is 刂, which carries the idea of "knife". Dictionaries list 割 under this radical.
Is 割 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 割 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 割 and 切 (qiē)?
切 is the everyday word for cutting food on a board, like 切菜 (qiē cài, chop vegetables). 割 suggests a slicing or sawing motion through something attached, like grass, crops, or skin, as in 割草 (gē cǎo, cut grass).
Can 割 mean to give up territory?
Yes. In historical and political contexts 割 means to cede land, as in 割地 (gē dì, to cede territory). The idea is cutting off a piece and handing it over.