Meanings of 撕
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About 撕
Podcast: 撕
Podcast: 撕
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AI Study Notes for 撕
撕 (sī) vs 扯 (chě) — use 撕 when emphasizing a clean tear, while 扯 implies pulling or tugging rather than a precise ripping action.
Be cautious not to confuse 撕 (sī) with other verbs that also imply breaking or damaging, such as 破 (pò), which means 'to break' more generally. It's used in informal contexts, so avoid using it in very formal writing. Common collocations include 撕纸 (sī zhǐ, to tear paper) and 撕心裂肺 (sī xīn liè fèi, to tear one's heart apart).
As an HSK Level 5 word, 撕 connects with other action verbs related to physical actions, such as 打 (dǎ, to hit) and 拿 (ná, to take). Focus on using 撕 in various sentence structures to express different contexts of tearing.
Learners often confuse 撕 (sī) with 破 (pò), thinking they are interchangeable. For example, saying '我破了这张纸' (wǒ pò le zhè zhāng zhǐ) is incorrect for tearing; it should be '我撕了这张纸' (wǒ sī le zhè zhāng zhǐ).
Pronunciation of 撕
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Jason Explains 撕 to You
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Etymology of 撕
Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 斯 represents the sound.
hand
Origin
撕 = 扌 + 斯. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 撕
Parts
Which of these is part of 撕?
How to say to tear in Chinese
“to tear” in Chinese is撕
The character 撕 (sī) means 'to tear' or 'to rip.' It is commonly used in contexts involving physical tearing, such as ripping paper or fabric. This verb can also imply the act of tearing something apart emotionally or metaphorically, which adds a nuanced layer to its usage.
When to use 撕
Be cautious not to confuse 撕 (sī) with other verbs that also imply breaking or damaging, such as 破 (pò), which means 'to break' more generally. It's used in informal contexts, so avoid using it in very formal writing. Common collocations include 撕纸 (sī zhǐ, to tear paper) and 撕心裂肺 (sī xīn liè fèi, to tear one's heart apart).
撕 or something close to it
撕 (sī) vs 扯 (chě) — use 撕 when emphasizing a clean tear, while 扯 implies pulling or tugging rather than a precise ripping action.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 撕 (sī) with 破 (pò), thinking they are interchangeable. For example, saying '我破了这张纸' (wǒ pò le zhè zhāng zhǐ) is incorrect for tearing; it should be '我撕了这张纸' (wǒ sī le zhè zhāng zhǐ).
Write 撕
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Practice writing 撕 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 撕
撕 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 2 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.
This construction emphasizes the action of tearing.
这是我撕的。
This is what I tore.
Build it
Put the words in order to say “This is what I tore.”.
Common Confusions with 撕
Similar shape with different meaning.
Which one
Which one means “to tear”?
Usage Notes for 撕
Learners often confuse 撕 with other similar verbs that describe actions involving fabric or paper, such as 砍 (to chop) and 剪 (to cut).
他不是在剪纸，他是在撕纸。
He is not cutting the paper, he is tearing the paper.
Get it right
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他不是在剪纸，他是在____纸。
He is not cutting the paper, he is tearing the paper.
Example Sentences for 撕 (10)
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Word Family of 撕
Words with 撕
What does 撕裂 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 撕
You can say '我撕了这张纸' (wǒ sī le zhè zhāng zhǐ), meaning 'I tore this piece of paper.'
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