裂

liè

列 + 衣

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

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

liè (noun) crack; fissure

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 衣 represents the meaning and 列 represents the sound.

Semantic: 衣 Phonetic: 列

About

The character 裂 conveys the idea of splitting, cracking, or tearing. It is formed by 列 (liè, 'to arrange in a row') placed above 衣 ('clothing'). The lower component 衣 serves as the semantic radical, indicating that the character originally referred to actions upon textiles: tearing fabric, ripping silk, or the fraying of worn garments. Later, its meaning extended to the violent fracturing of solids (rocks, bones), the splitting of surfaces under pressure, and the metaphorical rupture of relationships or political ties.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

杯子裂开了。

Bēizi liè kāi le.

The cup cracked.

玻璃窗上有一条裂缝。

Bōli chuāng shàng yǒu yī tiáo lièfèng.

There is a crack on the glass window.

他们的关系破裂了。

Tāmen de guānxì pòliè le.

Their relationship broke down.

干裂的土地急需雨水。

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裂。

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裂痕。

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裂。

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裂。

Gāowēn shǐ yánshí rè zhàng lěng suō ér suìliè.

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

Related Characters

Component: 列

Component: 衣

裂