破る

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 破る, read やぶる, means tearing something such as paper or breaking a promise or rule.
• Basic usage: It describes tearing open an envelope or failing to keep a promise.
  • 古い封筒を破ると、中から一枚の写真が出てきた。

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• The subject compared with 破れる
  • 破る describes someone tearing an object, while 破れる describes the object becoming torn.