dǎpò: 打破 - To Break, Smash, Shatter

• Keywords: dǎpò, 打破, break in Chinese, how to say break, smash in Chinese, break a record Chinese, break a tradition Chinese, break the silence Chinese, Chinese word for breakthrough, HSK 4 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese verb 打破 (dǎpò), which means “to break.” This guide covers its dual meaning: both literally “to break” or “smash” an object like a glass, and more importantly, metaphorically “to break” abstract concepts like a world record, a long silence, a stale tradition, or a political deadlock. Understand how 打破 (dǎpò) is used in everyday conversation, sports, and business to signify progress and breakthroughs.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): dǎpò
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To break, smash, or shatter something, either physically or metaphorically.
• In a Nutshell: 打破 (dǎpò) is a powerful action word. It combines “to hit” (打) with “to be broken” (破), creating the sense of causing something to break through force. Think of it as the action that leads to something being broken. This can be as simple as breaking a plate, or as profound as breaking a long-held social norm. The key is that 打破 focuses on the act of breaking itself.

• 打 (dǎ): The character 打 means “to hit,” “to strike,” or “to beat.” It's composed of the hand radical (扌) on the left and a phonetic component (丁, dīng) on the right. Visually, it represents an action done with the hand.
• 破 (pò): This character means “to break,” “to damage,” or “to be broken.” It's made of the “stone” radical (石, shí) and the character for “skin” or “surface” (皮, pí). You can imagine it as the act of breaking the outer surface (皮) of a stone (石), thus shattering it.
• Word Construction: Together, 打破 (dǎpò) literally means “to hit and break.” This vivid combination perfectly captures the idea of applying force to overcome a physical or conceptual barrier, causing it to shatter.

While 打破 (dǎpò) can literally mean breaking a dish, its cultural power lies in its metaphorical uses. In modern Chinese culture, which is undergoing rapid transformation, 打破 often carries a positive and proactive connotation. It signifies progress, innovation, and courage.

• Breaking Norms for Progress: Phrases like 打破常规 (dǎpò chángguī), “to break with convention,” are often praised in business, science, and art. It's not seen as mere rebellion, but as a necessary step to innovate and move forward. This reflects a societal value placed on development and overcoming old limitations.
• Comparison to Western “Breaking Tradition”: In some Western contexts, “breaking tradition” can feel confrontational or disrespectful to the past. In China, while tradition is deeply respected, 打破传统 (dǎpò chuántǒng) is frequently used in a positive light, especially in contexts of modernization. It's about “breaking out of old frameworks” to achieve a better future, rather than simply rejecting the past. It’s the difference between smashing an heirloom and breaking out of a prison. One is destructive, the other is liberating.

打破 is a versatile verb used in many situations. The key is to distinguish between its literal and figurative meanings.

• Literal Use (Breaking Physical Objects):
  • This is the most straightforward usage. It describes the act of smashing something, usually something fragile. It often implies an accident or deliberate force.
  • Example: 打破窗户 (dǎpò chuānghu) - to break a window.
• Metaphorical Use (Achievements & Records):
  • Extremely common in sports, news, and business contexts. It means to surpass a previous limit.
  • Example: 打破记录 (dǎpò jìlù) - to break a record.
• Metaphorical Use (Social & Conceptual Barriers):
  • This is where the word becomes more nuanced. It's used for ending a state of being or overcoming an abstract obstacle.
  • 打破沉默 (dǎpò chénmò) - To break the silence: Used when someone finally speaks after a long, awkward, or tense pause.
  • 打破僵局 (dǎpò jiāngjú) - To break the deadlock: Used in negotiations, politics, or any situation where progress has stalled.
  • 打破常规 (dǎpò chángguī) - To break the routine/convention: Used to describe an innovative or unconventional approach.

• Example 1:
  • 他不小心打破了妈妈最喜欢的花瓶。
  • Pinyin: Tā bù xiǎoxīn dǎpò le māma zuì xǐhuān de huāpíng.
  • English: He accidentally broke his mom's favorite vase.
  • Analysis: A classic literal usage. 打破 is the action that caused the vase to be in a broken state.
• Example 2:
  • 这位运动员打破了世界纪录！
  • Pinyin: Zhè wèi yùndòngyuán dǎpò le shìjiè jìlù!
  • English: This athlete broke the world record!
  • Analysis: A very common and positive metaphorical use. 打破 means to surpass or shatter the previous record.
• Example 3:
  • 会议室里一片寂静，他终于打破了沉默。
  • Pinyin: Huìyìshì lǐ yīpiàn jìjìng, tā zhōngyú dǎpò le chénmò.
  • English: The meeting room was completely silent; he finally broke the silence.
  • Analysis: Here, “silence” (沉默) is treated as a fragile thing that can be “broken” by the action of speaking.
• Example 4:
  • 我们需要一个新思路来打破目前的僵局。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào yīgè xīn sīlù lái dǎpò mùqián de jiāngjú.
  • English: We need a new way of thinking to break the current deadlock.
  • Analysis: This is common in business or diplomatic contexts. 打破僵局 means to find a solution that allows progress to resume.
• Example 5:
  • 他的设计打破了常规，让所有人眼前一亮。
  • Pinyin: Tā de shèjì dǎpò le chángguī, ràng suǒyǒu rén yǎnqián yī liàng.
  • English: His design broke from convention and impressed everyone.
  • Analysis: 打破常规 is highly positive here, meaning to innovate and think outside the box.
• Example 6:
  • 这个科学发现打破了人们长久以来的一个迷思。
  • Pinyin: Zhège kēxué fāxiàn dǎpò le rénmen chángjiǔ yǐlái de yīgè mísī.
  • English: This scientific discovery shattered a long-held myth among people.
  • Analysis: Shows 打破 can be used to mean “debunk” or “disprove” a false belief (迷思).
• Example 7:
  • 新政策旨在打破行业垄断，鼓励公平竞争。
  • Pinyin: Xīn zhèngcè zhǐ zài dǎpò hángyè lǒngduàn, gǔlì gōngpíng jìngzhēng.
  • English: The new policy aims to break the industry monopoly and encourage fair competition.
  • Analysis: A formal and economic use. “Monopoly” (垄断) is seen as a barrier to be broken.
• Example 8:
  • 你为什么要把杯子打破？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ wèishéme yào bǎ bēizi dǎpò?
  • English: Why did you have to break the cup?
  • Analysis: This question focuses on the action of breaking, using the 把 (bǎ) structure to bring the object “cup” before the verb.
• Example 9:
  • 要想进步，就必须敢于打破旧的思维模式。
  • Pinyin: Yào xiǎng jìnbù, jiù bìxū gǎnyú dǎpò jiù de sīwéi móshì.
  • English: If you want to make progress, you must dare to break old ways of thinking.
  • Analysis: A powerful statement about personal or societal development. 打破 here means to overcome mental limitations.
• Example 10:
  • 他们的婚姻打破了传统的年龄界限。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen de hūnyīn dǎpò le chuántǒng de niánlíng jièxiàn.
  • English: Their marriage broke traditional age boundaries.
  • Analysis: A social context where 打破 means to defy a social norm or convention.

• `打破 (dǎpò)` vs. `坏了 (huài le)`: This is the most common point of confusion for learners.
  • 打破 (dǎpò) is the action of breaking something, usually by impact.
    • Correct: 我打破了窗户。(Wǒ dǎpò le chuānghu.) - I broke the window.
  • 坏了 (huài le) describes the state of being broken or malfunctioning. It has a much broader meaning.
    • Correct: 窗户坏了。(Chuānghu huài le.) - The window is broken.
    • Correct: 我的手机坏了。(Wǒ de shǒujī huài le.) - My phone is broken.
    • Incorrect: 我打破了我的手机。(Wǒ dǎpò le wǒ de shǒujī.) - This is unnatural. You don't “smash” a phone to say it's not working. You would only say this if you literally smashed it with a hammer.
• False Friends with “Break”: The English word “break” is much broader than 打破. Do not use 打破 for these meanings:
  • Take a break: Use 休息 (xiūxi).
  • Break a promise: Use 违背诺言 (wéibèi nuòyán).
  • Break the law: Use 违反法律 (wéifǎn fǎlǜ).
  • My heart is broken: Use 我的心碎了 (wǒ de xīn suì le).

• 破坏 (pòhuài) - To destroy, to damage. More general and often more severe than 打破. It implies ruining something's structure or function.
• 弄坏 (nòng huài) - To make something broken (often by fiddling with it or through carelessness). It's less forceful than 打破.
• 碎 (suì) - To be shattered, in pieces. Often used as a result complement after 打, as in 打碎了 (dǎ suì le), which emphasizes that the object is in many pieces.
• 突破 (tūpò) - A breakthrough. This is a noun or verb that is a very positive, metaphorical extension of 打破. It's about overcoming a major obstacle to achieve a new level.
• 记录 (jìlù) - Record. The noun that is most frequently used as the object of 打破.
• 常规 (chángguī) - Convention, routine. An abstract concept that is often “broken” by innovators.
• 沉默 (chénmò) - Silence. The state that is “broken” when someone starts talking.
• 僵局 (jiāngjú) - Deadlock, stalemate. A situation in negotiations or conflicts that needs to be “broken.”
• 传统 (chuántǒng) - Tradition. A large-scale social concept that can be “broken” by new ideas or behaviors.