HSK · Level 27
135 words
Chinese word
破碎
Pronunciation
Pinyinpò suì
Meaning
- verbshatter
Example
手机屏幕破碎了。shǒu jī píng mù pò suì le
The phone screen shattered.
More examples
地震后，许多建筑的窗户破碎了。dì zhèn hòu xǔ duō jiàn zhù de chuāng hù pò suì le
After the earthquake, the windows of many buildings shattered.
Core concept
Damage reaches the point where one object no longer holds together as one continuous whole.
Common phrases
玻璃杯破碎bō lí bēi pò suì
glass cup shatter
陶瓷破碎táo cí pò suì
ceramic shatter
希望破碎xī wàng pò suì
hope shatter
Similar words
打碎dǎ suì: Break something into pieces by striking it.
摔碎shuāi suì: Break something into pieces by dropping it onto a hard surface.
砸碎zá suì: Smash something into pieces with a heavy object or strong force.
压碎yā suì: Crush something into pieces by pressing down on it.
Definition in Chinese
表示物体在受到冲击或外力后处于粉碎或破成多块的状态，强调破坏后的碎片状结果。biǎo shì wù tǐ zài shòu dào chōng jī huò wài lì hòu chǔ yú fěn suì huò pò chéng duō kuài de zhuàng tài qiáng diào pò huài hòu de suì piàn zhuàng jié guǒ
Word origin
破碎 (pòsuì, "shatter") is formed from 破 (pò, "break") and 碎 (suì, "in pieces"), so the word naturally focuses on a broken whole and its fragmented outcome.
Usage tips
- English speakers often use broken for both a small defect and a completely ruined object, so this word suits damage that leaves the original form in pieces.