Chinese word

折

Pronunciation

Pinyinzhé

Meaning

  • verbbreak

Example

我不小心把筷子折了。wǒ bù xiǎo xīn bǎ kuài zi zhé le

I accidentally broke the chopsticks.

Illustration for 折 (break)

More examples

请把地图折叠好再放进包里。qǐng bǎ dì tú zhé dié hǎo zài fàng jìn bāo lǐ

Please fold the map neatly before putting it in the bag.

Core concept

Force bends an object until its shape changes, leaving a crease or causing a clean break.

Common phrases

  • 折叠zhé dié

    fold up

  • 把东西折了bǎ dōng xī zhé le

    break something

Similar words

折断zhé duàn: Snaps an object completely apart by applying force.
破pò: Damages an object so that cracks or holes spoil its shape or make it unusable.
折叠zhé dié: Folds paper, cloth, or another flexible item over itself to reduce its size or change its shape.

Definition in Chinese

用手或工具使物体弯曲并断裂或产生折痕，也可指将物体对折或叠起改变形状。yòng shǒu huò gōng jù shǐ wù tǐ wān qū bìng duàn liè huò chǎn shēng zhé hén yě kě zhǐ jiāng wù tǐ duì zhé huò dié qǐ gǎi biàn xíng zhuàng

Word origin

The written form 折 (zhé, "break") places the hand radical beside 斤 (jīn, "axe"), connecting applied force with bending or breaking.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may associate break with damage, but this verb also covers a deliberate change of shape, so folded paper need not be damaged.

Other meanings

  • foldverb
  • snapverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word