Japanese word

破く

Pronunciation

Romajiyabuku

Meaning

  • verbrip

Example

封筒を破きます。fū tō o yabu ki ma su

I rip the envelope.

Illustration for 破く (rip)

More examples

古い雑誌を破いて、工作に使います。furu i zas shi o yabu i te kō saku ni tsuka i ma su

I tear up an old magazine and use it for a craft.

Core concept

Describes forcing a flexible object apart so that it splits or opens.

Common phrases

  • 紙を破くkami o yabu ku

    tear paper

  • 封筒を破くfū tō o yabu ku

    rip an envelope

  • 紙袋を破くkami bukuro o yabu ku

    tear a paper bag

Similar words

破るyaburu: To tear paper, cloth, or another flexible object, leaving it split or damaged.
裂くsaku: To split paper, cloth, or another flexible object by pulling it apart.
ちぎるchigiru: To tear off a piece of paper, cloth, or another soft object by hand.

Definition in Japanese

紙や布などを、力を加えて裂く。kami ya nuno na do o chikara o kuwa e te sa ku

Word origin

破く (yabuku) is a native Japanese verb related to 破ける (yabukeru, "to become torn"); the pair distinguishes causing an object to tear from becoming torn, while their older derivation is uncertain.

Usage tips

  • In English, rip also describes moving very fast, but 破く (yabuku) is used for physically tearing an object such as paper or cloth.

Other meanings

  • tearverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 破き方yabukikataway of tearingnoun

Word lists with this word