Usage note
破表示坏了、有裂口。
pò biǎo shì huài le 、 yǒu liè kǒu。
Broken means damaged or having a crack.
Context note
破常出现在东西坏掉、衣服和状态里。
pò cháng chū xiàn zài dōng xī huài diào 、 yī fu hé zhuàng tài lǐ。
Broken often appears with things that are damaged, clothes, and states.
5 examples
杯子破了。
bēi zi pò le。
The cup is broken.
这件衣服有点破。
zhè jiàn yī fu yǒu diǎn pò。
This piece of clothing is a little torn.
门破了吗？
mén pò le ma？
Is the door broken?
不要弄破。
bú yào nòng pò。
Do not break it.
我的鞋有点破。
wǒ de xié yǒu diǎn pò。
My shoes are a little worn out.
5 mini stories
我不小心把杯子弄破了。
wǒ bù xiǎo xīn bǎ bēi zi nòng pò le。
I accidentally broke the cup.
这本书的封面有点破。
zhè běn shū de fēng miàn yǒu diǎn pò。
The cover of this book is a little torn.
老师说东西破了要先告诉大人。
lǎo shī shuō dōng xī pò le yào xiān gào sù dà rén。
The teacher said if something is broken, tell an adult first.
这把伞破了，所以不能用了。
zhè bǎ sǎn pò le， suǒ yǐ bù néng yòng le。
This umbrella is broken, so it cannot be used.
破了以后，要想办法修好。
pò le yǐ hòu， yào xiǎng bàn fǎ xiū hǎo。
After it breaks, you should find a way to fix it.
Mini dialogue
小心杯子
A
哎呀，杯子掉在地上破了。
Āiyā, bēizi diào zài dìshang pò le.
Oops, the cup fell on the floor and broke.
B
没关系，我们小心打扫一下。
Méiguānxi, wǒmen xiǎoxīn dǎsǎo yīxià.
It's okay, let's carefully clean it up.
修补玩具
A
我的玩具破了，怎么办？
Wǒ de wánjù pò le, zěnme bàn?
My toy is broken, what should I do?
B
别担心，我们可以用胶水把它修好。
Bié dānxīn, wǒmen kěyǐ yòng jiāoshuǐ bǎ tā xiū hǎo.
Don't worry, we can use glue to fix it.
Related words and contrasts
similar
碎
suì
shattered
碎 means broken into small pieces, while 破 is more general for damaged or torn.
similar
坏
huài
broken (not functioning)
坏 often means something is spoiled or stopped working, like a toy.
opposite
完整
wán zhěng
intact
完整 means whole and undamaged, the opposite of 破.