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March 24, 2026
碎suì(sui4)
The character 碎 (suì) means to break or shatter into pieces. It is commonly used in contexts where something is physically broken, such as glass or ceramics, but can also be applied metaphorically to ideas or plans that have fallen apart. This word conveys a sense of fragmentation and destruction.
Strokes13Radical石Frequency#2150DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 'breaking' can symbolize failure or loss, but it can also represent the idea of starting anew from broken pieces, much like the philosophy of resilience in facing challenges.
Memory Tip
Think of a glass that has fallen and shattered into many pieces, creating a '碎' (suì) scene. The character has the radical for 'stone' (石) in it, indicating that a hard object has been broken into fragments, making it easier to remember both the meaning and the pronunciation.
Meanings of 碎
suì(sui4)
1to break down
2to break into pieces
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 碎
碎Simplified
13Strokes
石Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#2150Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 碎
Podcast: 碎
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AI Study Notes for 碎
Quick Contrast
破 (pò) - use 碎 (suì) when emphasizing fragmentation into many pieces, while 破 (pò) suggests general breaking or damage without the specific nuance of shattering.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of a glass that has fallen and shattered into many pieces, creating a '碎' (suì) scene. The character has the radical for 'stone' (石) in it, indicating that a hard object has been broken into fragments, making it easier to remember both the meaning and the pronunciation.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 碎 (suì) with 破 (pò), which also means 'to break,' but is used more for tearing or damaging. 碎 is generally more informal and used in everyday conversation, while 破 can be used in more formal contexts. A common collocation is 碎片 (suìpiàn), meaning 'fragments.'
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 碎 connects well with other words related to destruction or damage, such as 砸 (zá, to smash) and 崩 (bēng, to collapse). Students should focus on using it in sentences describing broken objects or situations where something has fallen apart.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 'breaking' can symbolize failure or loss, but it can also represent the idea of starting anew from broken pieces, much like the philosophy of resilience in facing challenges.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 碎 with 破. For example, saying '这本书碎了' (Zhè běn shū suìle) is incorrect if referring to a book that is just torn; the correct word would be 破. Another common mistake is using 碎 to describe something that's just damaged but not in pieces.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 碎
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Grammar Patterns of 碎
碎 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 4 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.
Used to emphasize the result of breaking or smashing something.
❝
这块玻璃是碎的。
Zhè kuài bōlí shì suì de.
This piece of glass is broken.
Exercise 1 of 3
Complete the Sentence
杯子被她不小心给摔____了。
The cup was accidentally smashed by her.
Common Confusions with 碎
碎 refers to breaking into pieces, while 破 generally refers to being damaged or torn.
1
这件衣服破了。
碎 refers to breaking into pieces, while 破 generally refers to being damaged or torn.
💡Remember that 碎 is for something that is fragmented.
Usage Notes for 碎
Common Misuse with Other Break-Related VerbsCommon Error
Learners often confuse 碎 with other verbs like 破 and 断, which have different nuances.
1
他把杯子打碎了。
He broke the cup.
Exercise 1 of 1
Fill in the Blank
他把杯子打____了。
He broke the cup.
Example Sentences for 碎 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我来上菜，你把帕尔马干酪磨碎。
wǒ lái shàng cài， ， nǐ bǎ pà ěr mǎ gān lào mó。
I'll dish up and you can grate the Parmesan.
2
他们听见酒瓶摔碎的声音，然后是一阵更喧闹的笑声。
tā mén tīng jiàn jiǔ píng shuāi suì de shēng yīn， ， rán hòu shì yī zhèn gēng xuān nào de xiào。
They heard a bottle being smashed, then more raucous laughter.
3
唯一的声响是冰层噼噼啪啪碎裂的声音。
wéi yī de shēng xiǎng shì bīng céng pī pī pā pā suì liè de shēng yīn。
The only sound was the crackle of breaking ice.
4
子弹砰地射进了天花板，掉落的石膏碎片落了他们一身。
zǐ dàn pēng dì shè jìn le tiān huā bǎn， ， diào luò de shí gāo suì piàn luò le tā mén yī。
The bullet slammed into the ceiling, spraying them with bits of plaster.
5
磨碎一汤匙鲜姜，放入平底锅。
mó suì yī tāng chí xiān jiāng， ， fàng rù píng dǐ。
Grate a tablespoonful of fresh ginger into a pan.
6
他突然扑向摄影师，痛打了他一顿，还摔碎了他的照相机。
tā tū rán pū xiàng shè yǐng shī， ， tòng dǎ le tā yī， dùn ， huán shuāi suì le tā de zhào。
He pounced on the photographer, beat him up and smashed his camera.
7
突如其来的一声巨响在建筑物间回荡着，震碎了玻璃。
tū rú qí lái de yī shēng jù xiǎng zài jiàn zhù wù jiān huí dàng zháo， ， zhèn suì le bō。
The bang came suddenly, echoing across the buildings, shattering glass.
8
几个帮派昨晚聚众闹事，他们打碎商店临街的玻璃窗，并投掷石块和瓶子。
jī gè bāng pài zuó wǎn jù zhòng nào shì， ， tā mén dǎ suì shāng diàn lín jiē de bō lí， chuāng ， bìng tóu zhì shí kuài hé。
Gangs rioted last night, breaking storefront windows and hurling rocks and bottles.
9
拿3个硬西红柿切碎。
ná3 3 gè yìng xī hóng shì qiē。
Chop up three firm tomatoes.
10
然后那些咖啡豆被磨碎，包装好作为咖啡粉出售。
rán hòu nà xiē kā fēi dòu bèi mó suì， ， bāo zhuāng hǎo zuò wéi kā fēi fěn chū。
The beans are then ground and packaged for sale as ground coffee.
Cultural Notes for 碎
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of 'breaking' can symbolize failure or loss, but it can also represent the idea of starting anew from broken pieces, much like the philosophy of resilience in facing challenges.
Word Family of 碎
Words Containing This Character20
碎suìto break down
碎片chip
破碎pòsuìto shatter
心碎heartbroken
打碎to shatter
粉碎fěnsuìto crush
撕碎to tear to shreds
杂碎offal雜碎
碎石crushed or broken rock, stone etc
琐碎trifling瑣碎
粉碎机pulverizer粉碎機
支离破碎scattered and smashed (idiom)支離破碎
碎裂to disintegrate
砸碎to pulverize
粉身碎骨fig. to die horribly
零碎scraps
碾碎to pulverize
切碎to chop
碎屑fragments
细碎fragments細碎
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 碎 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 碎
Yes, 碎 (suì) appears in various idiomatic expressions in Chinese. For instance, '心碎' (xīn suì) means 'heartbroken,' indicating emotional pain. Understanding these expressions can help you grasp the nuances of the language.
碎 (suì) and 破 (pò) both mean 'broken,' but they have slightly different connotations. 碎 emphasizes fragmentation or breaking into small pieces, while 破 generally refers to being damaged or torn. Context is key when choosing which word to use.
碎 (suì) means 'to break down' or 'to break into pieces.' It can describe something that is fragmented or shattered. This character is commonly used in various contexts, such as describing broken objects or fragmented thoughts.
You can use 碎 (suì) to describe something that has been broken, for example, '这块玻璃碎了' (zhè kuài bōlí suì le), which means 'This piece of glass is broken.' It's often used in both literal and metaphorical contexts.
You can say '这块玻璃碎了' (Zhè kuài bōlí suìle), meaning 'This piece of glass is broken.'
No, 碎 can also be used metaphorically, such as in '他的计划碎了' (Tā de jìhuà suìle), meaning 'His plan fell apart.'
While both mean 'to break,' 碎 emphasizes breaking into pieces, whereas 破 is more about damage or tearing.
