Meaning of 突破
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to break through
- to make a breakthrough
- to surmount (an obstacle)
- (sports) to break through the opponent's defense
How to use 突破
突破 works as a verb for getting past a limit, record, obstacle or defense. It also works as a noun meaning a breakthrough, often in science, technology or personal progress. Example: 这项研究取得了重大突破。(Zhè xiàng yánjiū qǔdé le zhòngdà tūpò.) This research achieved a major breakthrough.
突 (tū) means to burst out suddenly, as in 突然 (tūrán), and 破 (pò) means to break, as in 打破 (dǎpò). Put them together and you get bursting forward and breaking through whatever is in the way.
Common mistake: Learners often use 打破 and 突破 interchangeably. 打破 usually means smashing something or breaking a record or silence, while 突破 stresses pushing past a barrier or limit, so 突破自己 (tūpò zìjǐ) is natural but 打破自己 is not. Also keep 破 in the fourth tone (pò), not pō.
突破 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
突 tū · sudden · 9 strokes
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破 pò · broken · 10 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 突破.
| 突然 | tūrán | sudden; abrupt; unexpected |
| 破坏 | pòhuài | destruction; damage |
| 打破 | dǎpò | to break; to smash |
| 突出 | tūchū | prominent; outstanding |
| 破产 | pòchǎn | to go bankrupt; to become impoverished |
| 冲突 | chōngtū | conflict; to conflict |
| 破解 | pòjiě | to break (a bond, constraint etc); to explain |
| 破碎 | pòsuì | to smash to pieces; to shatter |
| 破裂 | pòliè | to burst; to rupture; (of a relationship etc) to break down |
| 破案 | pò'àn | to solve a criminal case |
| 突击 | tūjī | sudden and violent attack; assault |
| 突发 | tūfā | to occur suddenly |
Questions about 突破
What does 突破 mean?
突破 (tūpò) means "to break through; to make a breakthrough" and is used as a verb and noun.
How do you write 突破?
突破 is made of 2 characters: 突 (9 strokes), 破 (10 strokes). That is 19 strokes in total.
Is 突破 an HSK word?
Yes. 突破 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What verbs often go with 突破 when it is a noun?
Common pairings are 取得突破 (qǔdé tūpò, to achieve a breakthrough) and 实现突破 (shíxiàn tūpò, to realize a breakthrough). You will often see 重大 (zhòngdà, major) or 新的 (xīn de, new) in front of it.
How is 突破 used in sports?
In basketball and football it means getting past a defender or the defensive line, for example 他突破防守上篮 (tā tūpò fángshǒu shàng lán), he broke through the defense for a layup. Commentators also use it as a noun for a drive past the defense.