break

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 破 has 10 strokes and concerns tearing or breaking, including objects and promises.
• Basic usage: 破る is read やぶる, and 破れる is read やぶれる.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Breaking something and being broken
  • 封筒を破る means to tear an envelope.
  • 約束を破った means broke a promise.
  • The past form of 破る is 破った.
  • 底が破れる means the bottom tears.
  • 破る describes the action of tearing or breaking something, while 破れる describes the change that happens to it.