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March 24, 2026
拆chāi(chai1)
The character 拆 (chāi) means to tear open or to dismantle something. It is commonly used in contexts such as taking apart furniture, opening packages, or even demolishing buildings. The nuance often implies a deliberate action of separating or breaking something down.
Strokes8Radical扌Frequency#2992DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of拆 is often associated with renovation and improvement, reflecting the value placed on progress and modernization. For example,拆迁 (chāiqiān) refers to the process of demolishing old buildings to make way for new developments, a common sight in urban areas.
Memory Tip
Imagine a giant pair of hands (the radical 扌, meaning 'hand') tearing apart a cardboard box. The sound 'chāi' can remind you of 'shy,' as if the box is shyly revealing its contents as it's being torn open.
Meanings of 拆
chāi(chai1)
1to tear open
2to tear down
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 拆
拆Simplified
8Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#2992Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 拆
Podcast: 拆
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AI Study Notes for 拆
Quick Contrast
拆 (chāi) vs 拆除 (chāichú): use 拆 for the act of tearing open or dismantling, while 拆除 specifically refers to the act of demolishing or removing structures.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the context in which you use 拆, as it can sound somewhat informal when referring to taking apart things that are not meant to be dismantled. Common collocations include 拆房 (tear down a house) and 拆包 (open a package). Avoid confusing it with the character 开 (kāi), which means to open but does not imply tearing.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 5 word, 拆 connects well with other action verbs that describe physical interactions with objects, such as 开 (open) and 关 (close). Focus on using it in sentences that involve actions of disassembly or opening, as this will help reinforce its meaning.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 拆 with 开, mistakenly saying 拆门 (tear the door) instead of 开门 (open the door). Remember that 拆 implies a breaking down rather than simply opening.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 拆
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Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 斥 represents the sound.
1The meaning half扌 carries the sense.
2The sound half斥 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayhand
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 拆? 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 拆?
Decomposition of 拆
IDS Structure⿰扌斥
拆Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
斥chi4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 拆?
How to say to tear open in Chinese
“to tear open” in Chinese is拆chāi
The character 拆 (chāi) means to tear open or to dismantle something. It is commonly used in contexts such as taking apart furniture, opening packages, or even demolishing buildings. The nuance often implies a deliberate action of separating or breaking something down.
When to use 拆
Be mindful of the context in which you use 拆, as it can sound somewhat informal when referring to taking apart things that are not meant to be dismantled. Common collocations include 拆房 (tear down a house) and 拆包 (open a package). Avoid confusing it with the character 开 (kāi), which means to open but does not imply tearing.
拆 or something close to it
拆 (chāi) vs 拆除 (chāichú): use 拆 for the act of tearing open or dismantling, while 拆除 specifically refers to the act of demolishing or removing structures.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 拆 with 开, mistakenly saying 拆门 (tear the door) instead of 开门 (open the door). Remember that 拆 implies a breaking down rather than simply opening.
Write 拆
拆
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Grammar Patterns of 拆
拆 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 patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
