====== pò: 破 - To Break, Broken, Worn-out, To Defeat ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  *   **Keywords:** 破, pò, break, broken, damage, defeat, expose, tattered, worn-out, Chinese verb, Chinese character, learn Chinese, HSK 3, breakthrough
  *   **Summary:** Discover the versatile Chinese character **破 (pò)**, a fundamental term for any Mandarin learner. While its core meaning is "to break" or "broken," this page explores its rich applications, from describing a worn-out jacket and breaking a world record to defeating an enemy and seeing through a lie. Learn how this single character captures concepts of rupture, breakthrough, and exposure in both literal and figurative senses, complete with practical examples, cultural insights, and common mistakes to avoid.
===== Core Meaning =====
  *   **Pinyin (with tone marks):** pò
  *   **Part of Speech:** Verb, Adjective
  *   **HSK Level:** HSK 3 (as a standalone character), used in HSK 4+ vocabulary like 破坏 (pòhuài).
  *   **Concise Definition:** To break, damage, or destroy; or describing something as broken, tattered, or worn-out.
  *   **In a Nutshell:** **破 (pò)** is your go-to character for the idea of "breaking." Think of it as creating a hole, a tear, or a rupture. Physically, a window can be **破**, or your jeans can be **破**. Metaphorically, you can **破** a record, **破** a code, or even have your plans fall **破** (fail). It carries a strong sense of breaching a previously intact state.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  *   **破 (pò):** This character is a phono-semantic compound, meaning one part gives the meaning and the other gives the sound.
    *   **石 (shí):** The radical on the left means "stone." This provides the semantic clue, suggesting the use of force or a hard object to cause breaking.
    *   **皮 (pí):** The component on the right means "skin" or "peel." Here, it primarily provides the phonetic sound for **pò**.
  *   You can create a simple story to remember it: using a **stone (石)** to break the **skin (皮)** of something, causing it to rupture. This visual powerfully captures the essence of **破**.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
  *   **The Spirit of "No Retreat":** **破** is central to one of China's most famous historical idioms: **破釜沉舟 (pò fǔ chén zhōu)**, which literally means "to break the cauldrons and sink the boats." It originates from a story about General Xiang Yu, who ordered his troops to destroy their cooking pots and sink their transport ships after crossing a river to engage in battle. This ensured there was no possibility of retreat, forcing his army to fight to the death and securing a decisive victory. Today, it signifies burning one's bridges and showing absolute determination to succeed against all odds.
  *   **Western Comparison:** In English, we have the concept of a "breakthrough," which aligns well with the Chinese term **突破 (tūpò)**. However, **破** itself is more fundamental. While "break" in English is a common verb, it doesn't carry the same weight in cultural idioms about determination as **破釜沉舟**. The Chinese usage often implies a more dramatic and committed act of "breaking" from a prior state, whether it's a military formation, a social norm, or a personal limitation.
  *   **Breaking the Old:** The term **破旧立新 (pò jiù lì xīn)**, "destroy the old and establish the new," has been a powerful slogan in various Chinese social and political movements. It reflects a cultural value placed on the ability to break from outdated traditions to make way for progress, a theme recurrent throughout modern Chinese history.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
  *   **Describing Worn-Out Things (Adjective):** This is a very common, informal usage. If something is old, tattered, or in poor condition, you can call it **破**.
    *   `我的鞋子很**破**了。` (Wǒ de xiézi hěn pò le.) - My shoes are really worn-out.
    *   `你为什么要住在这个**破**地方？` (Nǐ wèishéme yào zhù zài zhège pò dìfang?) - Why do you want to live in this dump/lousy place? (Note: **破** here is highly informal and expresses dissatisfaction).
  *   **The Act of Breaking (Verb):** Used with a direct object, often in combination with other verbs like **打 (dǎ)**.
    *   `谁把窗户打**破**了？` (Shéi bǎ chuānghu dǎ pò le?) - Who broke the window?
  *   **Figurative Breakthroughs and Exposure:** **破** is essential in many compound words for abstract concepts.
    *   **Business/Finance:** **破产 (pòchǎn)** means "to go bankrupt."
    *   **Problem Solving:** **突破 (tūpò)** means "to make a breakthrough."
    *   **Social Interaction:** **看破 (kànpò)** means "to see through" a lie or trick. **说破 (shuōpò)** means "to lay bare" or "to reveal" a secret.
===== Example Sentences =====
  *   **Example 1:**
    *   我的手机屏幕**破**了，我需要换一个新的。
    *   Pinyin: Wǒ de shǒujī píngmù **pò** le, wǒ xūyào huàn yí ge xīn de.
    *   English: My phone screen is cracked, I need to get a new one.
    *   Analysis: Here, **破** is used as a state adjective to describe something physically broken or cracked. The particle **了 (le)** indicates a change of state.
  *   **Example 2:**
    *   这件 T 恤太**破**了，你应该扔掉它。
    *   Pinyin: Zhè jiàn T-xù tài **pò** le, nǐ yīnggāi rēngdiào tā.
    *   English: This T-shirt is too worn-out, you should throw it away.
    *   Analysis: This shows **破** used to mean "tattered" or "worn-out," a very common colloquial usage for clothes, furniture, and other items.
  *   **Example 3:**
    *   那位运动员打**破**了世界纪录！
    *   Pinyin: Nà wèi yùndòngyuán dǎ**pò** le shìjiè jìlù!
    *   English: That athlete broke the world record!
    *   Analysis: **打破 (dǎpò)** is a common resultative complement. **打** is the action ("to hit"), and **破** is the result ("broken"). It's used figuratively here for breaking a record.
  *   **Example 4:**
    *   由于管理不善，那家公司去年**破**产了。
    *   Pinyin: Yóuyú guǎnlǐ bù shàn, nà jiā gōngsī qùnián **pò**chǎn le.
    *   English: Due to poor management, that company went bankrupt last year.
    *   Analysis: **破产 (pòchǎn)** is a set vocabulary word combining "break" and "property." It's the standard term for bankruptcy.
  *   **Example 5:**
    *   经过数月的努力，我们的团队终于有了**突破**。
    *   Pinyin: Jīngguò shù yuè de nǔlì, wǒmen de tuánduì zhōngyú yǒu le **tūpò**.
    *   English: After months of hard work, our team finally had a breakthrough.
    *   Analysis: **突破 (tūpò)** is another key vocabulary word, meaning "breakthrough." It combines "to burst out" (**突**) with "to break" (**破**).
  *   **Example 6:**
    *   别再撒谎了，我早就看**破**你的计谋了。
    *   Pinyin: Bié zài sāhuǎng le, wǒ zǎo jiù kàn**pò** nǐ de jìmóu le.
    *   English: Stop lying, I saw through your scheme long ago.
    *   Analysis: **看破 (kànpò)** is a figurative use meaning "to see through" a deception. **看** is "to see," and **破** indicates the result of breaking the illusion.
  *   **Example 7:**
    *   这真是一个**破**主意！
    *   Pinyin: Zhè zhēnshi yí ge **pò** zhǔyi!
    *   English: This is really a lousy idea!
    *   Analysis: In informal speech, **破** can be used as an adjective to mean "lousy," "terrible," or "worthless," expressing strong disdain.
  *   **Example 8:**
    *   如果你把这个秘密说**破**了，他会很生气的。
    *   Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ bǎ zhège mìmì shuō**pò** le, tā huì hěn shēngqì de.
    *   English: If you reveal this secret, he will be very angry.
    *   Analysis: **说破 (shuōpò)** means to expose something by speaking about it, to "break" the silence or secrecy.
  *   **Example 9:**
    *   为了赢得这场战争，将军决定**破釜沉舟**。
    *   Pinyin: Wèile yíngdé zhè chǎng zhànzhēng, jiāngjūn juédìng **pò fǔ chén zhōu**.
    *   English: In order to win this war, the general decided to burn his bridges (literally, break the cauldrons and sink the boats).
    *   Analysis: This showcases the use of **破** in a classical idiom (**成语 chéngyǔ**) that is still widely understood in modern China.
  *   **Example 10:**
    *   不要为这点儿**破**事烦恼了。
    *   Pinyin: Búyào wèi zhè diǎnr **pò**shì fánnǎo le.
    *   English: Don't worry about this trivial/annoying little thing.
    *   Analysis: **破事 (pòshì)** is a very common and informal slang term for annoying, trivial, or troublesome matters.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  *   **破 (pò) vs. 坏 (huài):** This is a critical distinction for learners.
    *   **破 (pò)** implies a physical rupture: a hole, a tear, a crack, or being shattered. Use it for clothes, paper, glass, or skin.
        *   Correct: `我的裤子**破**了一个洞。` (Wǒ de kùzi pò le yí ge dòng.) - My pants have a hole in them.
        *   Correct: `碗打**破**了。` (Wǎn dǎpò le.) - The bowl shattered.
    *   **坏 (huài)** is a more general term for "broken" in the sense of "not functioning" or "spoiled." Use it for machines, electronics, or food.
        *   Correct: `我的电脑**坏**了。` (Wǒ de diànnǎo huài le.) - My computer is broken.
        *   Incorrect: `我的电脑破了。` (This would imply the computer's casing is physically smashed, not that it won't turn on).
        *   Correct: `牛奶**坏**了。` (Niúnǎi huài le.) - The milk has gone bad.
  *   **Don't Overuse "Lousy":** While **破** can mean "lousy" or "crappy" (e.g., `破地方`, `破手机`), this is very informal and can sound rude. Be careful with its use in polite or formal situations. Stick to the literal meanings of "broken" or "worn-out" until you are comfortable with the connotations.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  *   [[坏]] (huài) - A general term for "broken" (non-functional) or "bad." A key term to distinguish from **破**.
  *   [[打破]] (dǎpò) - A common compound meaning "to break" or "to smash," often implying force. More specific than just **破**.
  *   [[破坏]] (pòhuài) - To destroy, to damage, to sabotage. More formal and carries a stronger, often more intentional, sense of destruction.
  *   [[突破]] (tūpò) - A breakthrough; to break through. A positive, figurative term used in science, career, and personal development.
  *   [[碎]] (suì) - To shatter into small pieces. Describes the result of breaking something fragile, like glass. It's a result, whereas **破** can be the action or the state.
  *   [[破产]] (pòchǎn) - To go bankrupt. A specific legal and economic term.
  *   [[破旧]] (pòjiù) - Worn-out and old. An adjective that specifically combines "worn-out" with "old" to describe objects.
  *   [[揭破]] (jiēpò) - To expose or uncover (a plot, a lie). Similar to `说破` but with a stronger sense of investigation and revelation.