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JLPT N112画 · 12 strokesradical 衣freq #1041

split, rend, tear

On'yomi (音読み)

  • レツ

Kun'yomi (訓読み)

  • さ.く
  • さ.ける
  • -ぎ.れ

Mnemonic

A torn piece of clothing hanging on a frail line splits into two, reminiscent of the kanji's clothing radical and its meaning to tear.

About this kanji

The kanji 「裂」 primarily means to split, rend, or tear something apart. It can function as both a verb and a noun, with usage often connected to damage or division. Some common compounds include 亀裂 (きれつ), meaning "crack"; 決裂 (けつれつ), which refers to a "breakdown" in negotiations or discussions; and 分裂 (ぶんれつ), meaning "split" or "division." Additionally, the verb 裂く (さく) means "to tear." A point to remember is that this kanji usually implies a strong or forceful action, often leading to irreversible changes or separations.

Example sentences

  • 布を裂く音が聞こえた。

    I heard the sound of fabric tearing.

Meanings across languages

English
split, rend, tear
Tiếng Việt
tách, xé, rạch
日本語
れつ, はる, ひらく
한국어
찢다, 열다, 찢어지다
中文
裂开, 撕裂, 撕扯
id
merobek
th
ฉีก
es
rasgar
fr
déchirer
de
spalten
pt
rasgar

Common compounds

  • 亀裂きれつcrack, crevice, fissure
  • 決裂けつれつbreakdown (of talks, negotiations, etc.), breaking off, rupture
  • 分裂ぶんれつsplit, division, break up
  • 裂くさくto tear, to rip up, to cut up
  • 破裂はれつbursting, rupture, explosion
  • 核分裂かくぶんれつnuclear fission, karyokinesis (division of a cell nucleus during mitosis or meiosis)
  • 裂けるさけるto split, to tear, to burst
  • 引き裂くひきさくto tear up, to tear off, to rip up

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