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坼 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
坼chèto crack, to open, to split, to tearzg, 8 strokes, radical 土, rank #66047, Very Hard
坼chèto breakunknown, 8 strokes, radical 土, rank #66047, Very Hard
坼chèto chapunknown, 8 strokes, radical 土, rank #66047, Very Hard
chè(che4)che T4
  1. 1to crack, to open, to split, to tear
  2. 2to break
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March 24, 2026

坼chè(che4)

The character 坼 (chè) means to crack, split, or tear apart. It often describes the action of breaking something into pieces or creating a fissure. This term can be used in both physical contexts, such as describing a cracked surface, and metaphorical ones, indicating a division or rift in relationships.

Strokes8Radical土Frequency#66047DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the concept of splitting can reflect philosophical ideas about duality and division, such as the yin and yang. The image of cracks can also symbolize flaws in strength, both physically and in relationships.

Memory tip

Imagine a large, heavy rock (represented by the radical '土' for earth) that suddenly cracks (the character) under pressure. The sound of the crack can help you remember the pronunciation 'chè'. Visualize the rock splitting apart to reinforce the meaning.

Meanings of 坼

chè(che4)
1to crack, to open, to split, to tear
2to break
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 坼

坼Simplified
8Strokes
土Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 坼

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Podcast: 坼

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AI Study Notes for 坼

Quick Contrast

裂 (liè) vs 破 (pò) — use 坼 (chè) when emphasizing a clean or distinct crack, while 裂 (liè) often refers to a more general splitting, and 破 (pò) implies breaking something into pieces.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 坼 with similar characters like 裂 (liè), which also means to split but often refers to a more significant or deeper crack. This word is more commonly used in informal contexts. Learners should be mindful of tone, ensuring they pronounce 坼 with the fourth tone to avoid confusion.

HSK Study Tips

Although 坼 is not included in the official HSK vocabulary lists, it connects with other HSK words related to breaking or splitting, such as 破 (pò). Students should focus on the context in which 坼 is used to enhance their understanding of related verbs in Mandarin.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 坼 with 裂 (liè) when referring to cracks. For example, saying '这条路裂了' instead of '这条路坼了' can lead to incorrect usage, as 裂 often implies a more serious type of split.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 坼

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Etymology of 坼

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory hint

earth

Semantic (meaning)土
+
Phonetic (sound)斥
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

坼 = 土 + 斥. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 坼

IDS Structure⿰土斥
坼Full character
=
土Tu3
left
斥chi4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 坼?

How to say to crack, to open, to split, to tear in Chinese

“to crack, to open, to split, to tear” in Chinese is坼chè

The character 坼 (chè) means to crack, split, or tear apart. It often describes the action of breaking something into pieces or creating a fissure. This term can be used in both physical contexts, such as describing a cracked surface, and metaphorical ones, indicating a division or rift in relationships.

When to use 坼

Common mistakes include confusing 坼 with similar characters like 裂 (liè), which also means to split but often refers to a more significant or deeper crack. This word is more commonly used in informal contexts. Learners should be mindful of tone, ensuring they pronounce 坼 with the fourth tone to avoid confusion.

坼 or something close to it

裂 (liè) vs 破 (pò) — use 坼 (chè) when emphasizing a clean or distinct crack, while 裂 (liè) often refers to a more general splitting, and 破 (pò) implies breaking something into pieces.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 坼 with 裂 (liè) when referring to cracks. For example, saying '这条路裂了' instead of '这条路坼了' can lead to incorrect usage, as 裂 often implies a more serious type of split.

Write 坼

坼

Practice writing 坼 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 坼

Words containing this character1
坼chèto crack

Frequently Asked Questions about 坼

You can say '这个墙壁上有一个大坼' (There is a big crack in this wall).

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