打破

• Pinyin: dǎ pò
• Hanzi breakdown: 打 = 扌(hand) + 丁 (nail); 破 = 石 (stone) + 皮 (skin)

Meaning

To break; to shatter; to smash. Can refer to breaking physical objects or abstract concepts like records or rules.

Used both literally for breaking objects and figuratively for breaking records, silence, conventions, or barriers. A versatile word in both everyday and formal contexts.

Examples

1. 他不小心打破了一个杯子。 He accidentally broke a cup.
2. 她打破了学校的百米跑步记录。 She broke the school's 100-metre running record.
3. 我们需要打破旧的想法，接受新的方式。 We need to break old ideas and accept new ways.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, sports, abstract

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 他打破了世界纪录。(He broke the world record.)
• 孩子打破了窗户上的玻璃。(The child broke the glass on the window.)

Don't Say

• 我打破了手机 (Don't use 打破 for electronics — use 摔坏 or 弄坏 instead; 打破 implies shattering into pieces)

Origin & History

Compound of 打 (hit, strike) and 破 (broken, damaged), literally 'strike-break.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal