引(ひ)き裂(さ)く

ひきさく
godan verb
to tear apart, to rip up; to separate
1. to tear apart, to rip up, to rend
To forcefully tear something into pieces by pulling.
手紙(てがみ)を引(ひ)き裂(さ)いた。
I ripped up the letter.
布(ぬの)を引(ひ)き裂(さ)いて包帯(ほうたい)にした。
I tore the cloth apart to use as a bandage.
怒(いか)りに任(まか)せて書類(しょるい)を引(ひ)き裂(さ)いてしまった。
In a fit of anger, I tore the documents to shreds.
2. to tear apart, to separate, to drive a wedge between
To forcefully separate people who are close, such as lovers, family members, or friends. Used figuratively for emotional or relational separation.
戦争(せんそう)が家族(かぞく)を引(ひ)き裂(さ)いた。
War tore the family apart.
二人(ふたり)は運命(うんめい)に引(ひ)き裂(さ)かれた。
The two were torn apart by fate.
親(おや)の反対(はんたい)が若(わか)い恋人(こいびと)たちを引(ひ)き裂(さ)くことは、昔(むかし)の物語(ものがたり)によくある話(はなし)だ。
Parents' opposition tearing young lovers apart is a common story in old tales.

CONJUGATION:

Godan verb (五段動詞(ごだんどうし)), く-ending.

  • Negative: 引(ひ)き裂(さ)かない
  • Passive: 引(ひ)き裂(さ)かれる (often used in sense 2)
  • Polite: 引(ひ)き裂(さ)きます
  • Te-form: 引(ひ)き裂(さ)いて
  • Past: 引(ひ)き裂(さ)いた

USAGE:
Sense 2 is very common in literature and drama. The passive form 引(ひ)き裂(さ)かれる (to be torn apart) is frequently used to describe lovers or families separated by circumstances beyond their control.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 手紙(てがみ)を引(ひ)き裂(さ)く: to rip up a letter
  • 家族(かぞく)を引(ひ)き裂(さ)く: to tear a family apart
  • 運命(うんめい)に引(ひ)き裂(さ)かれる: to be torn apart by fate
  • 心(こころ)を引(ひ)き裂(さ)く: heart-rending
general
Added 2026.2.21 15:48
12000/12459_hikisaku