Meaning of 裂
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to split
- to crack
- to break open
- to rend
How to use 裂
裂 is usually used for physical things that crack or split, like glass, walls, lips, or fabric, and often appears with a result word such as 开 or in compounds like 裂缝 and 破裂. Example: 杯子裂了。(Bēizi liè le.) The cup cracked.
裂 is built from 列 (liè) on top, which gives the sound, and 衣 (yī, clothing) below. Picture a piece of clothing that splits open along a line.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 裂 with 烈 (liè, fierce), which sounds the same but has four dots 灬 at the bottom instead of 衣. Remember that 裂 has clothing underneath because things tear, while 烈 has fire because it is intense.
裂 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.
裂 liè · to split · 12 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 裂.
| 分裂 | fēnliè | to split up; to divide |
| 破裂 | pòliè | to burst; to rupture; (of a relationship etc) to break down |
| 裂缝 | lièfèng | crack; crevice |
| 断裂 | duànliè | fracture; rupture |
| 裂痕 | lièhén | crack; gap |
| 撕裂 | sīliè | to tear; to rip apart |
| 裂开 | lièkāi | to split open |
| 爆裂 | bàoliè | to rupture; to burst |
| 四分五裂 | sìfēnwǔliè | (idiom) fragmented; scattered; in disarray; at sixes and sevens |
| 碎裂 | suìliè | to disintegrate; to shatter into small pieces |
| 裂谷 | liègǔ | (geology) rift valley |
| 裂口 | lièkǒu | breach; split |
Questions about 裂
What does 裂 mean?
裂 (liè) means "to split; to crack" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 裂?
裂 is made of 1 character: 裂 (12 strokes). That is 12 strokes in total.
Is 裂 an HSK word?
Yes. 裂 is on the HSK 6 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 裂 and 破?
破 (pò) is broader and means broken or damaged in general, including holes and smashed objects. 裂 focuses on a crack or split line where the object is still mostly in one piece. A cracked bowl is 裂了, a smashed bowl is 破了 or 碎了.
Can 裂 describe relationships or groups, not just objects?
Yes, but usually through compounds. 分裂 (fēnliè) is used for a country, party, or group splitting apart, and 破裂 (pòliè) is used when talks or a relationship break down, as in 谈判破裂 (tánpàn pòliè), the negotiations broke down.