Japanese word

裂く

Pronunciation

Romajisaku

Meaning

  • verbtear

Example

紙を裂きます。kami o sa ki ma su

I tear the paper.

Illustration for 裂く (tear)

More examples

子どもたちは新聞を細かく裂きました。ko do mo ta chi wa shin bun o koma ka ku sa ki ma shi ta

The children tore the newspaper into small pieces.

Core concept

Describes pulling or forcing a material apart so that it separates into pieces or strips.

Common phrases

  • 新聞を裂くshin bun o sa ku

    tear a newspaper

  • 細かく裂くkoma ka ku sa ku

    tear into small pieces

  • 封筒を裂くfū tō o sa ku

    tear an envelope

Similar words

破るyaburu: To tear a sheet or other flat material, often creating an opening.
引き裂くhikisaku: To tear something apart with strong force, often into separate pieces.
ちぎるchigiru: To tear off a piece or pieces from something by hand.
切るkiru: To separate material by cutting through it with a blade or scissors.

Definition in Japanese

紙や布などに力を加え、細長く引き離して分ける。kami ya nuno na do ni chikara o kuwa e hoso naga ku hi ki hana shi te wa ke ru

Word origin

裂く (saku, "to tear") is a native Japanese verb whose deeper origin is uncertain; it is not identified as a Sino-Japanese compound or a loanword.

Usage tips

  • The verb 裂く (saku) usually describes tearing paper or cloth by hand, while using scissors is normally expressed with 切る (kiru).

Other meanings

  • splitverb

Related words

  • 裂き方sakikataway of tearingnoun

Word lists with this word