剖 pōu to bisect
to bisect; to dissect; to slice
How to remember 剖: 咅 spit + 刂 knife = to bisect. In biology class Tom nearly has to spit out his gum when the teacher lifts the knife and shows how to bisect a frog.
Component breakdown
剖 = 咅 spit + 刂 knife
- 咅 spit
- 刂 knife
In biology class Tom nearly has to spit out his gum when the teacher lifts the knife and shows how to bisect a frog.
How it is used
- To cut open and lay bare - 解剖 (jiěpōu) to dissect/anatomize, 剖腹产 (pōufùchǎn) cesarean section.
- Figuratively to analyze in depth - 剖析 (pōuxī) to dissect/analyze, 剖白 (pōubái) to lay bare one's feelings.
- The image is opening something up to see inside - literal or analytical.