- 破る — to break / to tear
- 破れる — to be broken / to be defeated
- 破壊 — destruction
- 破産 — bankruptcy
- 突破 — breakthrough
- 打破 — defeat / break through
- 爆破 — explosion / blasting
Left radical 石 (stone) signals hardness/impact; the right part 皮 (skin/surface) provides sound. Together they evoke splitting or breaking—both literal (tearing, shattering) and figurative (defeat, violation, disruption).
窓を 強く 打って ガラスが 破れた。
The glass broke when the window was hit hard.
彼の 記録は 簡単には 破れない。
His record won't be easily broken.