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磔 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
磔zhéto dismember, to tear apartg, 15 strokes, radical 石
磔zhétearing off limbs as punishmentunknown, 15 strokes, radical 石
zhé(zhe2) T2
  1. 1to dismember, to tear apart
  2. 2tearing off limbs as punishment
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

磔zhé(zhe2)

The character 磔 (zhé) refers to the act of dismembering or tearing apart, often used in a historical context related to punishment. It conveys a sense of extreme violence and is not commonly used in everyday conversation, making it more relevant in literary or historical discussions.

Strokes15Radical石
Cultural Note

In ancient Chinese legal systems, particularly during the imperial era, severe punishments like dismemberment were used for serious crimes, highlighting the harshness of justice at the time.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'zebra' (sounds like 'zhe') being pulled apart by wild animals, emphasizing the violent act of dismemberment. The character's radical 磨 (stone) suggests the harshness of the action, as stones can symbolize brutality.

Meanings of 磔

zhé(zhe2)
1to dismember, to tear apart
2tearing off limbs as punishment
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 磔

磔Simplified
15Strokes
石Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 磔

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Podcast: 磔

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 磔

Usage Notes

This term is very formal and may appear in historical texts or discussions about punishment. Be careful not to confuse it with more benign terms related to separation or division; it carries a heavy connotation of violence and should be used with caution.

HSK Study Tips

While 磔 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, understanding it can enhance comprehension of literary texts. Students should focus on recognizing its form and meaning in context, perhaps alongside related terms for punishment or violence at higher proficiency levels.

Common Mistakes

Learners may mistakenly use 磔 in casual contexts, thinking it simply means 'to cut' without understanding its violent implications. For example, saying '我想磔这个纸' (I want to dismember this paper) is incorrect; instead, use 切 (qiē) for cutting paper.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 磔

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Etymology of 磔

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

rock

Semantic (meaning)石
+
Phonetic (sound)桀
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 磔

  1. 1The meaning half石 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half桀 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayrock
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 磔? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 磔?

Decomposition of 磔

IDS Structure⿰石桀
磔Full Character
=
石dan4
left
桀jie2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 磔?

How to say to dismember, to tear apart in Chinese

“to dismember, to tear apart” in Chinese is磔zhé

The character 磔 (zhé) refers to the act of dismembering or tearing apart, often used in a historical context related to punishment. It conveys a sense of extreme violence and is not commonly used in everyday conversation, making it more relevant in literary or historical discussions.

When to use 磔

This term is very formal and may appear in historical texts or discussions about punishment. Be careful not to confuse it with more benign terms related to separation or division; it carries a heavy connotation of violence and should be used with caution.

What learners get wrong

Learners may mistakenly use 磔 in casual contexts, thinking it simply means 'to cut' without understanding its violent implications. For example, saying '我想磔这个纸' (I want to dismember this paper) is incorrect; instead, use 切 (qiē) for cutting paper.

Write 磔

磔

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 磔

磔 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 2

Complete the Sentence

杀人莫敢前,须如猬毛____.

Would slay whoever dared confront Those moustaches that Bristled like porcupinequills.

Example Sentences for 磔 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
杀人莫敢前,须如猬毛磔.

shā rén mò gǎn qián, , xū rú wèi máo.

Would slay whoever dared confront Those moustaches that Bristled like porcupinequills.

Word Family of 磔

Words Containing This Character1
磔zhétearing off limbs as punishment
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 磔 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 磔

No, 磔 is primarily found in historical texts and is not used in everyday conversation.

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