掰 meaning and stroke order
To break off or break open sth with one's hands; (fig.) to break off (a relationship)
How to write 掰, 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.
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Meaning of 掰
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to break off or break open sth with one's hands
- (fig.) to break off (a relationship)
How 掰 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. To tear something 分 with both hands 手.
Radical: 手 (hand), shared by 23 characters on this site.
How to remember 掰
Picture two hands 手 on either side of 分 (fēn, to divide). Your left hand and right hand pull something apart, like breaking a bar of chocolate in half.
掰 (bāi) is used for breaking or prying something open with your hands, often with a result word like 开 (kāi) or 断 (duàn). Example: 他把面包掰成两半。(Tā bǎ miànbāo bāi chéng liǎng bàn.) He broke the bread into two halves. It can also mean breaking off a relationship in casual speech.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes write the middle part as 八 or 刀 alone instead of the full 分, or forget that the right side is a full 手 rather than the narrow 扌 radical. Also do not confuse 掰 (bāi, break by hand) with 撕 (sī), which means to tear paper or cloth.
Common words with 掰
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 掰掰 | bāibāi | bye-bye (loanword) (Tw) | |
| 瞎掰 | xiābāi | (coll.) to talk nonsense; to fool around |
掰 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 掰
How many strokes are in 掰?
掰 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 掰 mean?
掰 (bāi) means to break off or break open sth with one's hands; (fig.) to break off (a relationship). A common word with it is 掰掰 (bāibāi), meaning "bye-bye (loanword) (Tw)".
How do you pronounce 掰?
掰 is pronounced bāi, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 掰?
The radical of 掰 is 手, which carries the idea of "hand". Dictionaries list 掰 under this radical.
Is 掰 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 掰 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What does 掰掰 mean?
掰掰 (bāibāi) is a loanword for English "bye-bye," common in Taiwan. The characters are chosen for their sound, so it has nothing to do with breaking things.
What does 瞎掰 mean?
瞎掰 (xiābāi) is colloquial for talking nonsense or messing around. You might hear 别瞎掰了 (bié xiābāi le), meaning "stop talking nonsense."