Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Tear" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "tear", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
破る
やぶる (yaburu)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
裂く
さく (saku)
B2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "tear" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 破る and 裂く.
In Japanese, 破る (やぶる (yaburu)) is typically associated with "to tear, to rip, to break (a rule/promise) (transitive)" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents A transitive verb, meaning someone intentionally tears something, or breaks a rule/promise. Often used with を..
On the other hand, 裂く (さく (saku)) maps to "to tear, to rip" (Syllabus Level: B2) and represents Essential structural term in CEFR B2 vocabulary syllabus.. A literal translation of "tear" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "破る"
彼は秘密の約束を破ってしまった。
He broke the secret promise.
Bilingual Context for "裂く"
毎日、日本語を練習するために裂く。
Every day, I tear, to rip to practice Japanese.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "彼は秘密の約束を破ってしまった。" (Meaning: "He broke the secret promise.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "破る" fits here because it means "to tear, to rip, to break (a rule/promise) (transitive)" in the context of: "He broke the secret promise.". "裂く" represents "to tear, to rip".