撕裂

sīliè

verb #8,120

Meanings

Tear + split — to violently rip something apart. Can be physical or metaphorical.

他把那封信撕裂了。

Tā bǎ nà fēng xìn sīliè le.

He tore that letter apart.

战争撕裂了这个国家。

Zhànzhēng sīliè le zhège guójiā.

War tore this country apart.

伤口已经撕裂了，需要重新缝合。

Shāngkǒu yǐjīng sīliè le, xūyào chóngxīn fénghé.

The wound has torn open and needs to be stitched again.

usage

撕裂 is more intense and dramatic than simple 撕 (tear). It's commonly used figuratively for societies, relationships, or emotions being torn apart.

撕 sī

裂 liè