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March 24, 2026
割gē(ge1)
The character 割 (gē) primarily means 'to cut' or 'to divide,' often in a physical sense, such as cutting meat or paper. It can also imply partitioning or ceding something, such as territory or rights. This character is commonly used in both everyday situations and formal contexts, especially in discussions about agreements or separations.
Strokes12Radical刂Frequency#2669DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese history, the act of 割 (gē) can symbolize significant events, such as the ceding of land or territory in treaties. Understanding this character can provide insight into the cultural significance of territorial disputes in Chinese history.
Memory Tip
Imagine a pair of scissors cutting through a piece of paper with the sound 'gē' echoing in your mind. The '割' character has the radical for 'knife' (刀) on the left side, which directly relates to the act of cutting. Visualize a knife slicing through something to reinforce the meaning.
Meanings of 割
gē(ge1)
1to cut
2to cut apart
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 割 means.
About 割
割Simplified
12Strokes
刂Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#2669Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 割
Podcast: 割
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AI Study Notes for 割
Quick Contrast
割 (gē, to cut) vs 切 (qiē, to slice) — use 割 for cutting in a more general or partitioning sense, while 切 is more specific to slicing or cutting into pieces.
Usage Notes
A common mistake is confusing 割 (gē) with 切 (qiē), which also means 'to cut' but is used in different contexts, such as cutting food into smaller pieces. Ensure to use 割 when referring to more significant separations or territorial divisions. The tone is crucial; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 割 connects to other advanced vocabulary related to actions and processes, such as 切 (qiē) and 断 (duàn). Students should focus on differentiating these terms based on the context in which they are used, particularly in formal writings or discussions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 割 with 切 when talking about cutting food, using 割 incorrectly in casual cooking contexts. The correct term for cutting food is 切 (qiē), while 割 should be reserved for more significant separations.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 割
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How Well Do You Know 割?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 割 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.
割 = 刂 + 害. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 割
IDS Structure⿰害刂
割Full Character
=
害hai4
left
刂dao1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 割?
How to say to cut in Chinese
“to cut” in Chinese is割gē
The character 割 (gē) primarily means 'to cut' or 'to divide,' often in a physical sense, such as cutting meat or paper. It can also imply partitioning or ceding something, such as territory or rights. This character is commonly used in both everyday situations and formal contexts, especially in discussions about agreements or separations.
When to use 割
A common mistake is confusing 割 (gē) with 切 (qiē), which also means 'to cut' but is used in different contexts, such as cutting food into smaller pieces. Ensure to use 割 when referring to more significant separations or territorial divisions. The tone is crucial; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.
割 or something close to it
割 (gē, to cut) vs 切 (qiē, to slice) — use 割 for cutting in a more general or partitioning sense, while 切 is more specific to slicing or cutting into pieces.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 割 with 切 when talking about cutting food, using 割 incorrectly in casual cooking contexts. The correct term for cutting food is 切 (qiē), while 割 should be reserved for more significant separations.
Write 割
割
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Practice writing 割 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 割
割 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 3 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.
钻石切____靠的是工匠的技艺。
The cut of a diamond depends on the skill of its craftsman.
Example Sentences for 割 (10)
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1
钻石切割靠的是工匠的技艺。
zuān shí qiē gē kào de shì gōng jiàng de jì yì。
The cut of a diamond depends on the skill of its craftsman.
2
雪花如刀割般刮在他的脸上，他绷紧了双肩。
xuě huā rú dāo gē bān guā zài tā de liǎn shàng， ， tā bēng jǐn le shuāng。
He braced his shoulders as the snow slashed across his face.
