How to Use the Chinese Words for Broken: 'Pòle (broken, torn)', 'Huàile (broken)' and 'Suìle (broken to pieces) '

How to Use the Chinese Words for Broken: 'Pòle (broken, torn)', 'Huàile (broken)' and 'Suìle (broken to pieces) '
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The word broken破了【pòle】is used for something that has a non-intentionally hole or crack in it.

坏了【huàile=broken, stop working】is used for an object is broken, not worked properly or expired.

碎了【suìle】 is often used for a fragile object that is broken into pieces (shattered), such as glass-made.

破了【pòle】, 坏了【huàile=broken, stop working】and碎了【suìle】 can also be used as metaphor.

I. Broken: 破了【pòle=broken, torn, cut】

a. The word 破了【pòle】is used for something that has a non-intentionally hole or crack in it, such as bag-pack, porcelain, skin, clothing items, paper-made.

Example 1:

His knee is cut.

他的【tāde=his】膝盖【xīgài=knee】破了【pòle=cut】。

他的 膝盖 破了。

Example 2:

My sleeping bag is torn.

我的【wǒde=my】睡袋【shuìdài=sleeping bag】破了【pòle= torn】。

我的 睡袋 破了。

Example 3:

The paper is torn.

纸【zhǐ=paper】破了【pòle=torn】。

纸 破了。

b.破了【pòle=broken】can also be used as metaphor.

Example:

I already think hard but still can’t get the answer.

Literally means," My brain already think until broken, but think not come out.

我【wǒ=I】脑子【nǎozi=brain】想【xiǎng=think】破了【pòle=broken】都【dōu】想【xiǎng=think】不【bù=not】出来【chūlai=come out】。

我 脑子 想 破了 都 想 不 出来。

Others things that use the word 破了【pòle】, such as: 证件【zhèngjiàn=certificate】, 身份证【shēnfènzhèng=ID Card】,书本【shūběn=book】, 袋子【dàizi=bag, sack】,手绢【shǒujuàn=handkerchief】, 帽子【màozǐ】, 衣服【yīfu=clothes】,手【shǒu=hand】.

II. Broken: 坏了【huàile=broken, stop working】

a. 坏了【huàile】is used for an object is broken or not worked properly such as machine, home appliances, electronic item, furniture, glasses, etc.

Example 1:

That table is broken.

那【nà=that】张【zhāng =a measure word for tables】桌子【zhuōzi=table】坏了【huàile=broken】。

那 张 桌子 坏了。

Example 2:

Older brother’s mobile phone is broken.

Older brother’s mobile phone is stop working.

哥哥【gēgē=older brother】的【de】手机【shǒujī=mobile phone】坏了【huàile=broken, stop working】。

哥哥 的 手机 坏了。

Example 3:

His glasses is broken.

他的【tāde=his】眼镜【yǎnjìng=glasses】坏了【huàile=broken】。

他的 眼镜 坏了。

b.坏了【huàile】is also used for an object that is expired such as food, beverage.

Example 1:

The bread that I just bought is already expired.

我【wǒ=I】刚【gāng=just】买【mǎi=buy】得【de】面包【miànbāo=bread】已经【yǐjīng=already】坏了【huàile= expired, broken】。

我 刚 买 得 面包 已经 坏了。

Example 2:

Soya-bean milk is expired.

豆浆【dòujiāng= soya-bean milk】坏了【huàile=expired, broken】。

豆浆 坏了。

Others things that use this word: 坏了【huàile】, such as: 蛋【dàn=egg】,牛肉【niúròu=beef】, 蛋糕【dàngāo=cake】, 电视【diànshì=TV】, 机器【jīqì=machine】, 计算机【jìsuànjī=calculator】, 照相机【zhàoxiàngjī= camera】.

c. 坏了【huàile】can also be used as metaphor.

Example:

He is crazy.

Literally means," His brain is busted/broken".

他的【tāde=his】脑子【nǎozi=brain】坏了【huàile】!

他的 脑子 坏了!

Compare that with example 2:

The doctor says, “His brain is damaged”.

医生【yīshēng=doctor】说【shuō=say】,“他的【tāde=his】脑子【nǎozi=brain】坏了【huàile】”。

医生 说,“他的 脑子 坏了”。

Here the patient’s brain is really damaged.

III. Broken:碎了【suìle=broken to pieces, smash】

a.碎了【suìle】 is often used for a fragile object that is broken into pieces (shattered), such as glass-made.

Example 1:

The bottle is smashed.

The bottle is shattered.

瓶子【píngzi=bottle】碎了【suìle=broken to pieces, smash】。

瓶子 碎了。

Example 2:

The glass is shattered.

玻璃杯【bōlibēi=glass, tumbler】碎了【suìle=broken to pieces】。

玻璃杯 碎了。

b. 碎了【suìle=broken to pieces, shattered】can also be used as metaphor, such as for dream, heart, feeling etc.

Example:

Her dream is shattered.

她的【tāde=her】梦想【mèngxiǎng= dream of】碎了【suìle=broken to pieces】。

她的 梦想 碎了。