Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Tear" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "tear", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
破れる
やぶれる (yabureru)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
破る
やぶる (yaburu)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "tear" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 破れる and 破る.
In Japanese, 破れる (やぶれる (yabureru)) is typically associated with "to tear, to be torn, to rip (intransitive)" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents An intransitive verb, meaning something tears or gets ripped by itself or unintentionally. Often used with が..
On the other hand, 破る (やぶる (yaburu)) maps to "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.. A literal translation of "tear" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "破れる"
古い本だから、ページが破れやすい。
It's an old book, so the pages tear easily.
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.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "古い本だから、ページが破れやすい。" (Meaning: "It's an old book, so the pages tear easily.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "破れる" fits here because it means "to tear, to be torn, to rip (intransitive)" in the context of: "It's an old book, so the pages tear easily.". "破る" represents "to tear, to rip, to break (a rule/promise) (transitive)".