Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
掰 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
掰
bāi
to break off or break open sth with one's hands
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 手, rank #10357, Very Hard
掰
bāi
(fig.) to break off (a relationship)
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 手, rank #10357, Very Hard
掰
bāi
to rip, to tear
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 手, rank #10357, Very Hard
bāi(bai1)bai T1
1to break off or break open sth with one's hands
2(fig.) to break off (a relationship)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
掰bāi(bai1)
The verb 掰 (bāi) means to break off or open something using one's hands. It is commonly used in physical contexts, such as breaking a twig or tearing paper, but can also describe the act of ending a relationship in a figurative sense.
Strokes12Radical手Frequency#10357DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the act of 'breaking' can symbolize endings or transitions, such as breaking off ties in relationships, reflecting the importance of interpersonal connections in social dynamics.
Memory tip
Imagine a baker (sounds like 'bāi') breaking a loaf of bread with their hands. The character 掰 combines the hand radical (扌) on the left with the 'break' component (白) on the right, symbolizing the action of breaking something with your hands.
Meanings of 掰
bāi(bai1)
1to break off or break open sth with one's hands
2(fig.) to break off (a relationship)
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 掰 means.
About 掰
掰Simplified
12Strokes
手Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#10357Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedBCT✓CEFRC2
Podcast: 掰
Podcast: 掰
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 掰
Quick Contrast
掰 (break off) vs 折 (break, snap) — use 掰 for breaking off with hands, while 折 implies snapping or folding.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 掰 with other similar verbs like 打 (dǎ, to hit) or 破 (pò, to break). This word is informal and typically used in everyday conversations. It's also important to use the correct tone; mispronouncing it can lead to misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 掰 connects with other advanced vocabulary involving physical actions and relationships. Students should focus on its usage in different contexts, including both literal and figurative meanings.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 掰 with similar verbs like 断 (duàn, to cut off) or 破 (pò, to break). A common mistake is saying '我掰了这段关系' when one should say '我断了这段关系' (I ended this relationship).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 掰
Premium — Locked
Tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 掰, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 掰 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 掰?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 掰 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.
How to say to break off or break open sth with one's hands in Chinese
“to break off or break open sth with one's hands” in Chinese is掰bāi
The verb 掰 (bāi) means to break off or open something using one's hands. It is commonly used in physical contexts, such as breaking a twig or tearing paper, but can also describe the act of ending a relationship in a figurative sense.
When to use 掰
Be careful not to confuse 掰 with other similar verbs like 打 (dǎ, to hit) or 破 (pò, to break). This word is informal and typically used in everyday conversations. It's also important to use the correct tone; mispronouncing it can lead to misunderstandings.
掰 or something close to it
掰 (break off) vs 折 (break, snap) — use 掰 for breaking off with hands, while 折 implies snapping or folding.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 掰 with similar verbs like 断 (duàn, to cut off) or 破 (pò, to break). A common mistake is saying '我掰了这段关系' when one should say '我断了这段关系' (I ended this relationship).
Write 掰
掰
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 掰 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar patterns of 掰
掰 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.
他抓得很紧，但她还是____开他的手，把它拿走了。
He held on tight but she prised it from his fingers.
Example sentences for 掰 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他抓得很紧，但她还是掰开他的手，把它拿走了。
tā zhuā de hěn jǐn， dàn tā háishi bāi kāi tā de shǒu， bǎ tā názǒu le。
He held on tight but she prised it from his fingers.
