碎 (suì) - To break into pieces & fragment

碎Tone 4

suì ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

树檀

碎 · suì

To break into pieces;

fragment;

smash;

also means trivial, detailed, or talkative.

To break into piecesfragmentsmash

Usage highlights

broken piecesfragmentarysmall changedetailed and trivialsmash to pieceschatter incessantly

Synonyms

  • 破— broken, damaged
  • 裂— cracked, split
  • 粉— powdered, pulverized

Antonyms

  • 整— whole, complete
  • 全— entire, complete
  • 完— intact, perfect

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The glass shattered into pieces (玻璃碎了).
  • Please break the large bill into smaller ones (请把大钞换成碎钱).
  • She is very meticulous about details (她很注意琐碎的事情).
  • Stop nagging all the time (别老是碎碎念).

Collocations

  • broken pieces(碎片)
  • fragmentary(零碎)
  • small change(碎钱)
  • detailed and trivial(琐碎)
  • smash to pieces(粉碎)
  • chatter incessantly(碎碎念)

Idioms

  • To break into a thousand pieces(粉身碎骨)
  • Bits and pieces, fragments(零零碎碎)
  • Gossip and idle talk(闲言碎语)
  • Scattered and disorderly(支离破碎)
  • Jade shattered and incense destroyed(玉碎香消)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese culture, '碎' often carries negative connotations of imperfection and incompleteness, as seen in the idiom '宁为玉碎，不为瓦全' (better to be a shattered jade than an intact tile - better to die in glory than live in dishonor).
  • The character appears in expressions about meticulousness and attention to detail, reflecting the value placed on thoroughness.
  • In traditional thought, broken or fragmented objects were often considered inauspicious, especially in important ceremonies or gifts.

FAQ