1.
to tear; to rip
To pull apart paper, cloth, or similar material.
紙を破いて捨てた。
I tore up the paper and threw it away.
Basic usage: tearing paper
手紙を破かないでください。
Please don't tear the letter.
Negative request form
子供が本のページを破いてしまった。
The child accidentally tore a page of the book.
[Note: てしまった expresses regret]
破く is a transitive verb (他動詞). The intransitive pair is 破れる (to tear, to be torn).
ASPECT ({ている}):
The ている form indicates ongoing action or a resulting state when combined with other verbs (紙が破けている uses the intransitive = 'the paper is torn').
PARTICLE PATTERNS:
- [object]を破く (tear ~)
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 紙を破く (tear paper)
- 手紙を破く (tear up a letter)
- 袋を破く (rip open a bag)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 破く vs 破る: Both mean 'to tear,' but 破る also extends to figurative uses like 'to break (a record)' or 'to defeat.' 破く is primarily for physical tearing.