折断

折斷

zhéduàn

verb #9,606

Meanings

1 to snap; to break (something long and rigid)
2 to fracture

Characters

to break; to snap; to fold

to break off; severed

Both characters mean 'to break' — together they emphasize snapping something in two.

Examples

风把树枝折断了。

Fēng bǎ shùzhī zhéduàn le.

The wind snapped the tree branch.

他不小心把筷子折断了。

Tā bù xiǎoxīn bǎ kuàizi zhéduàn le.

He accidentally broke the chopsticks.

这根铁丝很难折断。

Zhè gēn tiěsī hěn nán zhéduàn.

This wire is hard to break.

Tips

usage

折断 specifically describes snapping something long and rigid (branches, bones, sticks). For general breaking, use 打破 (dǎpò) for shattering or 弄坏 (nònghuài) for damaging.

Stroke Order

折 zhé

断 duàn