Chinese Character: 割
1. Character Basics
Radical: 刂 (dāo, knife/blade, indicates cutting)
Stroke Count: 12
Structure: The character consists of "害" (hài, harm) on the top and "刂" (dāo, knife) on the right, representing the action of cutting or harming with a knife.
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: Gē (First tone)
3. Meaning
Core Meaning: To cut; to reap; to divide
The character "割" primarily means to cut or divide something with a sharp tool. It is often used to describe actions like cutting crops, dividing land, or making incisions.
4. Common Words
- 割草 (gēcǎo) - to mow grass; to cut grass
Example: 农民在田里割草。(Nóngmín zài tián lǐ gēcǎo.) - The farmer is mowing grass in the field.
- 分割 (fēngē) - to divide; to separate
Example: 两国分割了这块土地。(Liǎng guó fēngēle zhè kuài tǔdì.) - The two countries divided this piece of land.
- 割断 (gēduàn) - to cut off; to sever
Example: 他割断了绳子。(Tā gēduànle shéngzi.) - He cut the rope.
- 收割 (shōugē) - to harvest; to reap
Example: 秋天是收割的季节。(Qiūtiān shì shōugē de jìjié.) - Autumn is the harvest season.
- 割爱 (gē'ài) - to give up something beloved
Example: 他不得不割爱卖掉自己的收藏品。(Tā bùdébù gē'ài màidiào zìjǐ de shōucángpǐn.) - He had to give up and sell his collection.
5. Grammar & Usage
Part of Speech: Verb
Usage Patterns:
- Often used with objects to indicate what is being cut
- Can be combined with other characters to form compound verbs
- May be used in both literal and figurative senses
- Commonly appears in agricultural and daily life contexts
Common Collocations:
- 割麦子 (gē màizi) - to reap wheat
- 割绳子 (gē shéngzi) - to cut rope
- 割肉 (gē ròu) - to cut meat
- 割伤 (gēshāng) - to cut; to wound
6. Cultural Background
The character "割" has deep cultural significance in Chinese history, particularly in relation to agriculture and traditional practices.
Agricultural Heritage: In ancient China, "割" was primarily associated with farming and harvesting, which were crucial for survival and the economy.
Idiomatic Expressions: Many Chinese idioms and proverbs use "割" to convey deeper meanings, such as "割席断交" (gēxí duànjiāo) meaning to end a friendship, originating from a story where friends separated their mats to show they were no longer companions.
Symbolic Meanings: The act of cutting can symbolize separation, sacrifice, or making difficult choices in Chinese culture.
7. Example Sentence
Example 1:
他用刀割开了包裹。
Tā yòng dāo gēkāile bāoguǒ.
He cut open the package with a knife.
Example 2:
医生需要割开伤口进行治疗。
Yīshēng xūyào gēkāi shāngkǒu jìnxíng zhìliáo.
The doctor needs to cut open the wound for treatment.
Example 3:
他们决定割让一部分领土。
Tāmen juédìng gēràng yī bùfen lǐngtǔ.
They decided to cede part of the territory.
8. Memory Tips
1. Component Analysis: The character "割" consists of "害" (hài, harm) and "刂" (dāo, knife). Remember that characters with the "刂" radical are often related to cutting or sharp objects.
2. Visual Association: Imagine a knife (刂) causing harm (害) by cutting something.
3. Word Family: Learn "割" together with its most common compound words:
- 割草 (gēcǎo) - to mow grass
- 分割 (fēngē) - to divide
- 割断 (gēduàn) - to cut off
4. Memory Phrase: "害加刀，割东西" (Hài jiā dāo, gē dōngxi) - "害 plus knife means to cut things."