打断 dǎduàn to interrupt
to interrupt; to break off; to break (a bone)
How to remember 打断: 打 hit + 断 sever = to interrupt.
Characters
How it is used
- (1) To interrupt someone - 别打断我 (bié dǎduàn wǒ) don't interrupt me; (2) to break sth in two - 打断了一根骨头 (dǎduàn le yī gēn gǔtou) broke a bone.
- The 'interrupt' sense targets speech/thought/action; the literal sense is snapping a long object. Resultative 打 (hit) + 断 (break).
- Distinguish from 中断 (zhōngduàn, to break off/suspend a process): 打断 is one party cutting in on another.
Example sentences
- 我们没有打断。 Wǒmen méiyǒu dǎduàn.We didn't break in.
- 请不要打断我。 Qǐng búyào dǎduàn wǒ.Please don't interrupt me.
- 他打断了我们的谈论。 Tā dǎduàn le wǒmen de tánlùn.He interrupted our conversation.