How to say "tear" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 涙なみだnounThe noun for the drops that fall from your eyes when you cry; 'tears'. It has nothing to do with ripping—the verb senses of 'tear' use entirely different words.
- 破るやぶるgodan verb, transitive verbTransitive: you tear or rip something, such as paper or an envelope. It also covers 'break' in a broader sense, as when a promise or rule is broken.
- 裂くさくgodan verb, transitive verbAlso transitive, but it suggests ripping something up or tearing it apart, often into pieces, rather than the general tearing that 破る covers.その少女はその布を裂いた。↗The girl tore the cloth.
- 破れるやぶれるichidan verb, intransitive verbIntransitive: something gets torn or rips—paper, clothing, a pocket—without anyone being named as the tearer. It is the counterpart of transitive 破る.
- 裂けるさけるichidan verb, intransitive verbIntransitive: something splits or tears apart, often bursting or coming apart into pieces—cloth or wood, say. It is the counterpart of transitive 裂く.この布は裂けやすい。↗This cloth tears easily.
Use 涙 for tears from the eyes; for ripping, 「破る」 and 「裂く」 are transitive—you tear something—while 「破れる」 and 「裂ける」 are intransitive—something tears or splits—with 「破る」 the most general of the four.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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