dǎsuì: 打碎 - To Shatter, To Smash, To Break into Pieces [Contextual Chinese Dictionary]

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====== dǎsuì: 打碎 - To Shatter, To Smash, To Break into Pieces ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** 打碎, dasui, dǎsuì, break into pieces, shatter in Chinese, smash, Chinese verb for breaking, resultative complement, Chinese grammar, 打破 vs 打碎, how to say broken in Chinese.
  * **Summary:** Learn how to use the common Chinese verb **打碎 (dǎsuì)**, which means "to shatter" or "to break into pieces." This page provides a comprehensive guide for beginners, covering its literal meaning of smashing a glass or plate, and its metaphorical use for shattering dreams or illusions. Discover the key cultural superstition associated with breaking things during Chinese New Year, understand its grammar as a resultative verb, and see 10 practical example sentences to master its usage in real conversations.
===== Core Meaning =====
<hanziwriter>打碎</hanziwriter>
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** dǎsuì
  * **Part of Speech:** Verb (Resultative Complement)
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 4
  * **Concise Definition:** To hit or drop something causing it to break into many pieces.
  * **In a Nutshell:** **打碎 (dǎsuì)** is a compound verb that describes both an action and its result. **打 (dǎ)** is the action "to hit," and **碎 (suì)** is the result "shattered" or "in pieces." Together, they form a specific and vivid picture of something, usually fragile like glass or porcelain, being completely broken into fragments. Think of the sound and image of dropping a plate on a tile floor—that's a perfect scenario for **打碎**.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **打 (dǎ):** This character's core meaning is "to hit," "to strike," or "to beat." The radical on the left, **扌**, is the "hand" radical, indicating an action performed with the hands.
  * **碎 (suì):** This character means "to break into pieces," "fragmented," or "smashed." The radical on the left, **石 (shí)**, means "stone." This hints at the idea of smashing something hard, like a rock, into smaller bits.
  * **Combined Meaning:** The logic is straightforward: an action of hitting (**打**) leads to a result of being in pieces (**碎**). This creates the powerful and descriptive verb "to shatter."
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
The act of breaking things, especially during important times, carries significant cultural weight in China.
The most famous example relates to Chinese New Year (春节, Chūnjié). If someone accidentally **打碎** a bowl, plate, or cup during the festival period, it's considered a bad omen, suggesting a fragmentation of family unity or fortune in the coming year.
To counteract this bad luck, people will immediately say the auspicious phrase: **岁岁平安 (suì suì píng'ān)**, which means "Peace year after year." This is a clever use of a homophone: the character for "shatter" (**碎**, suì) sounds exactly the same as the character for "year" (**岁**, suì). By saying this phrase, they turn the negative event of "shattering" into a positive wish for "yearly" peace, effectively neutralizing the bad luck with a linguistic remedy.
This is different from the Western superstition of "seven years of bad luck" for breaking a mirror. While both cultures see breaking certain items as unlucky, the Chinese custom provides an immediate, proactive verbal "fix" rooted in the sound of the language itself. It’s a beautiful example of how language, culture, and belief are intertwined.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
**打碎** is a very common word used in everyday life. Its usage can be divided into two main categories:
  * **Literal Usage:** This is the most frequent use, referring to the physical act of shattering a fragile object. It's a neutral description of an event.
    * //Contexts:// Dropping dishes, a child throwing a toy, a ball hitting a window.
    * //Common Objects:// 碗 (wǎn, bowl), 盘子 (pánzi, plate), 杯子 (bēizi, cup), 玻璃 (bōli, glass), 镜子 (jìngzi, mirror), 花瓶 (huāpíng, vase).
  * **Metaphorical Usage:** **打碎** can also be used for abstract concepts, carrying a strong, often negative, connotation of complete destruction.
    * **打碎梦想 (dǎsuì mèngxiǎng):** to shatter a dream.
    * **打碎幻想 (dǎsuì huànxiǎng):** to shatter an illusion.
    * **打碎希望 (dǎsuì xīwàng):** to shatter hope.
    * In revolutionary or social contexts, it can have a positive, radical meaning, as in **打碎旧世界 (dǎsuì jiù shìjiè)**, meaning "to smash the old world" to create a new one.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 他不小心把杯子**打碎**了。
    * Pinyin: Tā bù xiǎoxīn bǎ bēizi **dǎsuì** le.
    * English: He accidentally shattered the cup.
    * Analysis: A perfect, classic example using the `把 (bǎ)` construction, which is very common with `打碎` to show disposal or effect on an object.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 谁**打碎**了窗户？
    * Pinyin: Shéi **dǎsuì** le chuānghu?
    * English: Who shattered the window?
    * Analysis: A simple question about who caused the action. `了 (le)` indicates the action is complete.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 我的手机屏幕**打碎**了，现在什么也看不见。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ de shǒujī píngmù **dǎsuì** le, xiànzài shénme yě kàn bú jiàn.
    * English: My phone screen is shattered, now I can't see anything.
    * Analysis: A very practical, modern example. Note how the screen is the subject, indicating it "got shattered."
  * **Example 4:**
    * 这个花瓶是被猫**打碎**的。
    * Pinyin: Zhège huāpíng shì bèi māo **dǎsuì** de.
    * English: This vase was shattered by the cat.
    * Analysis: This sentence uses the passive voice with `被 (bèi)` to emphasize that the cat was the agent of the action.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 妈妈告诉弟弟不要在屋里踢球，免得**打碎**东西。
    * Pinyin: Māma gàosù dìdi búyào zài wū li tīqiú, miǎndé **dǎsuì** dōngxi.
    * English: Mom told my younger brother not to play soccer in the house, lest he break something.
    * Analysis: Here, `打碎` is used in a hypothetical warning about a potential future event.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 现实**打碎**了他成为明星的梦想。
    * Pinyin: Xiànshí **dǎsuì** le tā chéngwéi míngxīng de mèngxiǎng.
    * English: Reality shattered his dream of becoming a star.
    * Analysis: A clear metaphorical use. "Reality" is the abstract force that "shatters" the abstract concept of a "dream."
  * **Example 7:**
    * 清理这些**打碎**的玻璃时要小心。
    * Pinyin: Qīnglǐ zhèxiē **dǎsuì** de bōli shí yào xiǎoxīn.
    * English: Be careful when cleaning up this shattered glass.
    * Analysis: Here, `打碎的 (dǎsuì de)` functions as an adjective modifying "glass" (玻璃).
  * **Example 8:**
    * 他一气之下，把桌子上的所有东西都**打碎**了。
    * Pinyin: Tā yí qì zhīxià, bǎ zhuōzi shàng de suǒyǒu dōngxi dōu **dǎsuì** le.
    * English: In a fit of anger, he smashed everything on the table.
    * Analysis: This shows the intentional and forceful nature `打碎` can have, linked to strong emotion.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 这个古董碗很值钱，千万别**打碎**了。
    * Pinyin: Zhège gǔdǒng wǎn hěn zhíqián, qiānwàn bié **dǎsuì** le.
    * English: This antique bowl is very valuable, whatever you do, don't shatter it.
    * Analysis: A negative command using `别 (bié)`, warning against the action.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 听到这个坏消息，她感觉自己的心都**打碎**了。
    * Pinyin: Tīngdào zhège huài xiāoxi, tā gǎnjué zìjǐ de xīn dōu **dǎsuì** le.
    * English: Hearing this bad news, she felt as if her heart had shattered.
    * Analysis: While `心碎 (xīnsuì)` (heartbroken) is a fixed term, this phrasing creatively uses `打碎` to achieve a similar, very vivid emotional description.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
A common point of confusion for learners is the difference between **打碎 (dǎsuì)**, **打破 (dǎpò)**, and **弄坏 (nònghuài)**. They all mean "to break," but are not interchangeable.
  *   **打碎 (dǎsuì):** To break into //many pieces//. Use this for brittle things that shatter.
    * //Correct:// 我**打碎**了盘子。(Wǒ **dǎsuì** le pánzi.) - I shattered the plate.
    * //Incorrect:// 我打碎了我的电脑。(Wǒ dǎsuì le wǒ de diànnǎo.) - A computer doesn't shatter into small pieces.
  *   **打破 (dǎpò):** To break //a hole// in something, or to break a record/silence. The result is "pierced" or "broken," but not necessarily into many fragments.
    * //Correct:// 他**打破**了世界纪录。(Tā **dǎpò** le shìjiè jìlù.) - He broke the world record.
    * //Correct:// 球**打破**了窗户。(Qiú **dǎpò** le chuānghu.) - The ball broke the window (made a hole in it). If it shattered completely, `打碎` would be better.
  *   **弄坏 (nònghuài):** A very general term for "to break" or "to ruin," especially for machines, electronics, or things that stop functioning correctly. It implies making something go from "good" (好) to "bad" (坏).
    * //Correct:// 我把我的电脑**弄坏**了。(Wǒ bǎ wǒ de diànnǎo **nònghuài** le.) - I broke my computer.
    * //Correct:// 谁把玩具**弄坏**了？(Shéi bǎ wánjù **nònghuài** le?) - Who broke the toy?
**Key Mistake:** Using **打碎** for non-brittle items. Remember: if it doesn't shatter into pieces, you probably need **打破** or **弄坏**.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  *   [[打破]] (dǎpò) - To break (a record, silence, a hole). Contrasted with shattering into pieces.
  *   [[弄坏]] (nònghuài) - To break, make something malfunction. A more general term, especially for electronics.
  *   [[破坏]] (pòhuài) - To destroy, damage, sabotage. More formal and often implies intentional, large-scale damage.
  *   [[心碎]] (xīnsuì) - Heartbroken, heart-shattered. A common metaphorical use of the character `碎`.
  *   [[破碎]] (pòsuì) - Broken, tattered. A more literary or formal adjective to describe something that is broken into pieces.
  *   [[玻璃]] (bōli) - Glass. An object that is very commonly shattered (`打碎`).
  *   [[岁岁平安]] (suì suì píng'ān) - The auspicious phrase ("Peace year after year") used to ward off bad luck after something is `打碎`.
  *   [[碎片]] (suìpiàn) - A fragment, a shard, a piece of something that has been broken.
  *   [[粉碎]] (fěnsuì) - To smash into powder, to pulverize. An even more extreme version of `打碎`.