Chinese Character: 裂
1. Character Basics
Radical: 衣 (yī, clothing radical)
Stroke Count: 12
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: liè (Fourth tone)
3. Meaning
To split; crack; break; burst; rend; tear; rip; fracture; cleave; shatter; divide; separate; split apart; come apart; break open; split into pieces
4. Common Words
- 分裂 (fēnliè) - to split; to divide; to break up
- 破裂 (pòliè) - to break; to burst; to fracture
- 裂缝 (lièfèng) - crack; crevice; split
- 裂开 (lièkāi) - to split open; to crack open
- 撕裂 (sīliè) - to tear; to rip; to rend
- 炸裂 (zhàliè) - to burst; to explode and split
- 裂痕 (lièhén) - crack; split; rift; mark of separation
- 碎裂 (suìliè) - to shatter; to break into pieces
5. Grammar & Usage
"裂" is primarily used as a verb meaning "to split" or "to crack". It can also function as a noun or part of compound words related to breaking or splitting.
Common structures include "裂+开" (to split open), "裂+名词" (to split + noun), and "被+裂" (to be split by something).
In modern contexts, it can be used metaphorically, such as "分裂" (to split/separate), which can refer to the division of groups or organizations.
6. Cultural Background
The character "裂" with the clothing radical (衣) at the bottom reflects its original meaning related to tearing cloth.
In Chinese culture, the concept of "分裂" (splitting/dividing) is often viewed negatively, as it disrupts harmony and unity, which are highly valued in Chinese philosophy.
In traditional Chinese medicine, there is a concept called "干裂" (dry cracking), which refers to certain physical symptoms, showing how the character has been integrated into various aspects of Chinese culture.
7. Example Sentence
Chinese: 冬天天气干燥，我的手都裂开了。
Pinyin: Dōngtiān tiānqì gānzào, wǒ de shǒu dōu lièkāi le.
English: The weather is dry in winter, and my hands have cracked.
8. Memory Tips
The character "裂" consists of 列 (liè, row) on the top and 衣 (yī, clothing) at the bottom.
You can remember it as "a row (列) of splits on clothing (衣)" or visualize a piece of clothing with a row of splits, which connects to the meaning of splitting or cracking.
The clothing radical (衣) at the bottom is a key component to remember, as it relates to the original meaning of tearing cloth.