chāi
verb HSK 5 #2,992

Meanings

  1. 1 to tear open; to open (a package/letter)
  2. 2 to tear down; to demolish
  3. 3 to dismantle; to take apart

Characters

(hand) + (to reject) — tearing apart with the hand

Examples

Wǒ lái chāi kuàidì.
Let me open the delivery package.
Zhè dòng jiù lóu yào chāi le.
This old building is going to be demolished.
Tā bǎ shǒubiǎo chāi kāi yánjiū.
He took apart the watch to study it.
Bié chāi wǒ de tái!
Don't undermine me!

Tips

usage
快递 (opening packages) is almost a national hobby in China thanks to the massive e-commerce culture. is also used figuratively: (chāitái) = to undermine someone; 拆穿 (chāichuān) = to expose/debunk.
culture
The character painted in a circle on buildings (usually in red) is a famous sight — it means the building is marked for demolition. 拆迁 (chāiqiān) = demolition and relocation.

Stroke Order

chāi