割 gē to cut
to cut; to divide; to partition; to cede
How to remember 割: 害 to injure + 刂 knife = to cut. Careful not to injure his fingers, the engineer dad holds the knife like a ruler, ready to cut the cake into twelve slices.
Component breakdown
割 = 害 to injure + 刂 knife
- 害 to injure
- 𫲸
- 宀 house
- 丰 abundant
- 口 mouth
- 𫲸
- 刂 knife
Careful not to injure his fingers, the engineer dad holds the knife like a ruler, ready to cut the cake into twelve slices.
How it is used
- To cut through/sever with a blade - 割草 (gē cǎo) cut grass, 割麦子 (gē màizi) reap wheat.
- By extension, to cut off or cede: 割让土地 (gēràng tǔdì) cede territory.
- Compare 切 (qiē, slice on a board): 割 is drawing a blade through to separate, 剪 (jiǎn) is cutting with scissors. Compounds: 分割 (fēngē) partition, 收割 (shōugē) harvest.