裂く

• Reading: さく
• Romaji: saku
• Kanji breakdown: 裂 (retsu/sa) — tear, rip, split
• Pronunciation: /sa.kɯ/

Meaning

To tear; to rip; to split apart. The act of forcefully dividing something into pieces.

A Group 1 (godan) verb conjugated with the く row. A transitive verb for physically tearing cloth, paper, or other materials. Also used figuratively: 時間を裂く (to spare/carve out time), 二人の仲を裂く (to tear two people apart). The intransitive counterpart is 裂ける (to tear/split on its own). Common in both everyday and literary contexts.

Examples

1. 古い布を手で裂いて雑巾にした。 I tore the old cloth by hand and made it into rags.
2. 忙しい中、面接のために時間を裂いてくれた。 Despite being busy, he made time for the interview.
3. 強い風で旗が裂けそうになっていた。 The flag was about to tear in the strong wind.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, literature, time management

Tone: forceful

Origin & History

The kanji 裂 combines 衣 (clothing) and 列 (row/line), suggesting fabric being split along a line — a tear running through cloth.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal