Definitions

liè (verb) to split; to crack; to break open
liè (noun) crack; fissure

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "裂" is etymologically structured as a phono-semantic compound, integrating the radical "衣" representing cloth or clothing with the component "列" which provides both phonetic guidance and the core idea of separating or dividing, thus initially denoting the specific action of rending or tearing fabric. Over time, its semantic application widened beyond textile contexts to encompass various forms of splitting, cracking, or bursting observed in nature and objects, such as ground fissures or fractured surfaces, indicating a generalization from a material-specific verb to a broader term for rupture. The traditional form of the character preserves this original composition without substantive graphical change, and its conceptual evolution reflects a continuous extension from physical acts of division to metaphorical expressions of breakage or separation in abstract domains.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

杯子开了。

Bēizi liè kāi le.

The cup cracked.

玻璃窗上有一条缝。

Bōli chuāng shàng yǒu yī tiáo lièfèng.

There is a crack on the glass window.

他们的关系破了。

Tāmen de guānxì pòliè le.

Their relationship broke down.

的土地急需雨水。

Gānliè de tǔdì jíxū yǔshuǐ.

The parched and cracked land urgently needs rain.

强烈的余震使墙体进一步撕

Qiángliè de yùzhèn shǐ qiángtǐ jìnyībù sīliè.

The strong aftershock further tore the wall.

两种观点之间存在巨大的痕。

Liǎng zhǒng guāndiǎn zhī jiān cúnzài jùdà de lièhén.

There is a huge rift between the two viewpoints.

大陆板块运动导致地壳开

Dàlù bǎnkuài yùndòng dǎozhì dìqiào kāiliè.

The movement of continental plates causes the earth's crust to crack.

高温使岩石热胀冷缩而碎

Gāowēn shǐ yánshí rè zhàng lěng suō ér suìliè.

High temperatures cause rocks to expand and contract, leading to fragmentation.