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裂 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
裂
liè
to split
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 衣, rank #7068, Very Hard
裂
liè
to crack
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 衣, rank #7068, Very Hard
裂
liè
to break open
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 衣, rank #7068, Very Hard
裂
liè
to rend
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 衣, rank #7068, Very Hard
裂
liè
to split, to rend; crevice, crack
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 衣, rank #7068, Very Hard
liè(lie4)lie T4
1to split
2to crack
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March 24, 2026
裂liè(lie4)
The character 裂 (liè) primarily means 'to split' or 'to crack.' It is commonly used in contexts where something is torn apart or broken open, such as a fissure in the earth or a split in fabric. The nuance often implies a clean or defined break rather than a chaotic or messy one.
Strokes12Radical衣Frequency#7068DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of裂 can be seen in traditional stories and folklore, where cracks or splits often symbolize change or the emergence of new possibilities, reflecting philosophical ideas about transformation.
Memory tip
Imagine a giant '裂' (liè) in the ground, like a rift where you can see the two sides separated. The left part looks like a pair of scissors (to cut), and the right side resembles a crack in the earth, helping you remember both the form and meaning.
Meanings of 裂
liè(lie4)
1to split
2to crack
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 裂 means.
About 裂
裂Simplified
12Strokes
衣Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#7068Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 裂
Podcast: 裂
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AI study notes for 裂
Quick Contrast
裂 (liè) vs 破 (pò) — use 裂 for a clean or defined split, while 破 indicates a more chaotic or broken state.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 裂 with 破 (pò), which means 'to break' but implies more chaos or destruction. This word is more formal and typically used in written contexts, such as literature or scientific descriptions. Be careful with the tone; mispronouncing it could change its meaning.
HSK Study Tips
As 裂 is not included in the HSK word lists, focus on its related words like 破 (pò) and 分 (fēn), which deal with division and breaking. Understanding these connections will help reinforce your vocabulary around splitting and breaking concepts.
Common Mistakes
Learners might incorrectly use 裂 when they mean to say 'to break' more generally, leading to confusion with 破 (pò). For example, saying '这杯子裂了' (Zhè bēizi liè le) instead of '这杯子破了' (Zhè bēizi pò le) can be misleading, as the latter implies a more severe break.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 裂
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 裂 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
裂 = 衣 + 列. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 裂
IDS Structure⿱列衣
裂Full character
=
列lie4
top
衣yi1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 裂?
How to say to split in Chinese
“to split” in Chinese is裂liè
The character 裂 (liè) primarily means 'to split' or 'to crack.' It is commonly used in contexts where something is torn apart or broken open, such as a fissure in the earth or a split in fabric. The nuance often implies a clean or defined break rather than a chaotic or messy one.
When to use 裂
Learners often confuse 裂 with 破 (pò), which means 'to break' but implies more chaos or destruction. This word is more formal and typically used in written contexts, such as literature or scientific descriptions. Be careful with the tone; mispronouncing it could change its meaning.
裂 or something close to it
裂 (liè) vs 破 (pò) — use 裂 for a clean or defined split, while 破 indicates a more chaotic or broken state.
What learners get wrong
Learners might incorrectly use 裂 when they mean to say 'to break' more generally, leading to confusion with 破 (pò). For example, saying '这杯子裂了' (Zhè bēizi liè le) instead of '这杯子破了' (Zhè bēizi pò le) can be misleading, as the latter implies a more severe break.
Write 裂
裂
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Practice writing 裂 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 裂
裂 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我指甲根部的表皮龟____粗糙，指甲被咬得参差不齐。
My cuticles were split and ragged, and my nails unevenly bitten.
Example sentences for 裂 (10)
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1
我指甲根部的表皮龟裂粗糙，指甲被咬得参差不齐。
wǒ zhǐjia gēn bù de biǎo pí guī liè cūcāo， zhǐjia bèi yǎo de cēncībùqí。
My cuticles were split and ragged, and my nails unevenly bitten.
2
还不清楚船舵是如何断裂的。
hái bù qīngchu chuán duò shì rúhé duànliè de。
It was not yet clear how the rudder had sheared off.
3
唯一的声响是冰层噼噼啪啪碎裂的声音。
wéiyī de shēng xiǎng shì bīng céng pī pī pā pā suì liè de shēngyīn。
The only sound was the crackle of breaking ice.
4
围栏倒下时发出了断裂的声音。
wéi lán dǎoxià shí fāchū le duànliè de shēngyīn。
There was a splintering sound as the railing gave way.
5
细胞不断地分裂更新，这是人体发育过程的一部分。
xìbāo búduàn dì fēnliè gēngxīn， zhè shì réntǐ fāyù guòchéng de yībùfen。
Cells divide and renew as part of the human growth process.
6
他一定已经知道我父母的婚姻即将破裂。
tā yídìng yǐjīng zhīdào wǒ fùmǔ de hūnyīn jíjiāng pòliè。
He must have been aware that my parents' marriage was breaking up.
7
他注意到机翼在一块一块地断裂。
tā zhùyì dào Jī yì zài yī kuài yī kuài dì duànliè。
He noticed that fabric was tearing away from the plane's wing.
8
在他头顶的天花板上有一道很深的裂缝。
zài tā tóudǐng de tiānhuābǎn shàng yǒu yídào hěn shēn de lièfèng。
There was a deep crack in the ceiling above him.
9
塑料面椅子的四角上有几道小裂缝。
sùliào miàn yǐzi de sì jiǎo shàng yǒu jǐ dào xiǎo lièfèng。
The plastic-covered seat has a few small splits around the corners.
10
这4个省被严重的家族和部族纷争弄得四分五裂。
zhè4 gè shěng bèi yánzhòng de jiāzú hé bù zú fēn zhēng nòng de sì fēn wǔ liè。
The four provinces are riven by deep family and tribal conflicts.
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Word Family of 裂
Words containing this character20
分裂fēnlièto split up
裂缝lièfèngcrack裂縫
裂lièto split
破裂pòlièto rupture
断裂duànlièfracture斷裂
撕裂sīlièto tear
裂开lièkāito split open裂開
裂痕lièhéncrack
爆裂bàolièto rupture
裂纹lièwéncrack裂紋
碎裂suìlièto disintegrate
裂口lièkǒubreach
开裂kāilièto split open開裂
决裂juélièto rupture決裂
裂隙lièxìgap
割裂gēlièto cut apart
裂变lièbiànfission裂變
身败名裂shēnbàimínglièto lose one's standing身敗名裂
干裂gānlièto chap乾裂
裂解lièjiěpyrolysis
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 裂
What does 分裂 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 裂
You can use 裂 in a sentence like '这块石头裂了' (Zhè kuài shítou liè le), meaning 'This stone has cracked.'
It's more common in written language or formal contexts rather than everyday speech, where simpler terms might be preferred.
Synonyms include 破 (pò) for 'to break' and 分 (fēn) for 'to divide,' though they may carry different connotations.
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