裂ける

• Reading: さける
• Romaji: sakeru
• Kanji breakdown: 裂 (retsu/sa) — split, rend, tear
• Pronunciation: /sa.ke.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To split; to tear; to burst open. Something breaking apart along a line.

A Group 2 (ichidan) intransitive verb. Used for physical tearing or splitting: 布が裂ける (cloth tears), 地面が裂ける (ground splits). Featured in the idiom 口が裂けても言えない (I would never say it even if my mouth splits open). Not to be confused with the homophone 避ける (sakeru, to avoid). The transitive pair is 裂く (saku).

Examples

1. 強い地震で道路が裂けてしまった。 A powerful earthquake cracked the road open.
2. 口が裂けても秘密は言わないよ。 I wouldn't tell the secret even if my life depended on it.
3. 古くなったズボンが裂けて恥ずかしかった。 My old pants ripped and it was so embarrassing.

Usage Guide

Context: descriptions, idioms, accidents

Tone: dramatic

Origin & History

From the kanji 裂 (retsu, to tear or rend). The kun reading sakeru has been used since classical Japanese to describe splitting or tearing. Shares the root with the transitive form 裂く (saku).

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal