Chinese word

突破口

Pronunciation

Pinyintū pò kǒu

Meaning

  • nounbreakthrough

Example

我们已经找到了解决问题的突破口。wǒ men yǐ jīng zhǎo dào le jiě jué wèn tí de tū pò kǒu

We have already found the key to solving the problem.

Illustration for 突破口 (breakthrough)

More examples

良好的沟通可能成为化解冲突的突破口。liáng hǎo de gōu tōng kě néng chéng wéi huà jiě chōng tū de tū pò kǒu

Good communication may become an opening for resolving conflicts.

Core concept

A narrow opening in a blocked situation that lets a solution move forward.

Common phrases

  • 找到突破口zhǎo dào tū pò kǒu

    find an opening

  • 寻求突破口xún qiú tū pò kǒu

    seek an opening

  • 提供突破口tí gōng tū pò kǒu

    provide an opening

Similar words

关键guān jiàn: The point that is most important in deciding success or direction.
出路chū lù: A way or method for escaping a difficult situation or deadlock.
机会jī huì: A favorable time or chance for carrying out an action or plan.
途径tú jìng: A means or route for reaching a goal.

Definition in Chinese

指为解决难题而出现的关键线索或方法，是使僵局或困境出现转机的起点。zhǐ wèi jiě jué nán tí ér chū xiàn de guān jiàn xiàn suǒ huò fāng fǎ shì shǐ jiāng jú huò kùn jìng chū xiàn zhuǎn jī de qí diǎn

Word origin

突破口 (tūpòkǒu, "breakthrough opening") combines 突 (tū, "burst through") + 破 (pò, "break") + 口 (kǒu, "opening"), creating the image of an opening made in a barrier.

Usage tips

  • In everyday problem-solving talk, this noun points to the first useful opening, not necessarily the final solution, so it often appears with verbs such as find, seek, or seize.

Other meanings

  • leadnoun
  • way forwardnoun
  • openingnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 突破tū pòbreak throughverb
  • 突破性tū pò xìngbreakthrough qualitynoun

Word lists with this word