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A2 verb 11 min read

切碎

qiēsuì
Examples
Explanation 切碎 in your Level:
At the A1 level, you only need to know that '切碎' (qiē suì) means 'to chop into small pieces.' You will mostly see it in very simple sentences about food. Think of it as 'cut' + 'small pieces.' You might hear a teacher say '把纸切碎' (cut the paper into pieces) during a craft class. At this stage, focus on the basic meaning and the fact that it is used for food like vegetables and fruit. It is a very useful word if you want to talk about cooking or helping in the kitchen. Just remember: 切 (cut) + 碎 (pieces). It is usually used with the word '把' (bǎ), but at A1, you can just understand it in simple contexts like '我切碎苹果' (I chop the apple), even if it's not the most natural way to say it yet. The important thing is that '碎' means it's not just one cut, but many cuts to make it small.
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At the A2 level, you should start using '切碎' (qiē suì) with the '把' (bǎ) construction. This is the most common way native speakers use this word. For example, instead of saying '我切碎肉,' you should say '我把肉切碎了.' The '了' at the end shows the action is finished. You will find this word in basic recipes or when someone is giving you instructions in the kitchen. You should also recognize that '碎' is a result—it tells us what happened to the object after it was cut. If you cut something and it's still in big pieces, it's not '碎'. You can also use it to describe things, like '切碎的洋葱' (chopped onions). This is very helpful for shopping or ordering food. You should be able to distinguish '切碎' from '切开' (to cut open). If you '切开' a watermelon, you have two halves; if you '切碎' it, you have a mess of tiny pieces!
At the B1 level, you should understand the resultative verb structure of '切碎' (qiē suì) more deeply. You can now use potential complements: '切得碎' (can be chopped finely) and '切不碎' (cannot be chopped finely). For example, '这把刀太钝了，切不碎肉' (This knife is too dull; it can't mince the meat). You should also be able to use it in more diverse contexts, such as shredding paper or documents. You might encounter it in news stories about security or in more detailed cooking shows. At this level, you should also be aware of synonyms like '剁碎' (to chop with a cleaver) and understand that '切碎' is specifically about the slicing motion. You can use adverbs to modify the verb, like '尽量切碎' (chop as finely as possible) or '随便切碎' (just chop it up roughly). Your sentences should become more complex, incorporating time and purpose.
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At the B2 level, you should be comfortable using '切碎' (qiē suì) in passive '被' (bèi) constructions and more formal contexts. For instance, '这些机密文件已经被切碎了' (These confidential documents have already been shredded). You should also start to notice the word in literature where it might be used for dramatic effect, though it remains primarily a physical verb. You can discuss the nuances of different cutting techniques, comparing '切碎' with '切丁' (dicing) or '切丝' (shredding into strips). You should understand how the texture of '切碎' ingredients affects the flavor profile of a dish, showing a deeper cultural understanding of Chinese cuisine. Your use of resultative complements should be fluent, and you should be able to explain the process of '切碎' in detail, using appropriate sequence words like '首先,' '然后,' and '最后.'
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At the C1 level, you should have a nuanced command of '切碎' (qiē suì) and its related vocabulary. You can use it metaphorically in creative writing, perhaps to describe a fragmented narrative or a shattered dream, though you would do so with the awareness that it's a strong, physical image. You should be able to handle technical discussions where '切碎' might appear, such as in biology (mincing tissue) or industrial processing (shredding materials for recycling). You should also be familiar with idioms or four-character expressions that might involve similar concepts of fragmentation, even if they don't use '切碎' specifically. Your ability to switch between formal and informal registers when using the word should be seamless. You might also explore the etymology of the characters '切' and '碎' to understand their historical development and how they came to form this specific resultative pair.
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At the C2 level, '切碎' (qiē suì) is a simple tool in your vast linguistic arsenal. You understand its every nuance, including its rhythmic role in prose and its precise technical application in various fields. You can engage in high-level culinary discourse, debating the merits of hand-mincing ('手切碎') versus machine-grinding. You can use the word in complex philosophical or social commentaries to describe the 'fragmentation' of modern life or the 'shredding' of social contracts, utilizing the word's inherent sense of irreversible destruction. You are also aware of regional variations in how cutting techniques are described across the Chinese-speaking world. At this level, the word is not just a vocabulary item but a concept that you can manipulate to convey precise shades of meaning, whether you're writing a technical manual, a poem, or a legal document regarding document disposal.
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Examples

The Chinese term 切碎 (qiē suì) is a compound verb that combines the action of cutting with the resulting state of being in pieces. To understand this word, we must first look at its components: 切 (qiē), which means to cut or slice with a knife, and 碎 (suì), which refers to something being broken, shattered, or reduced to small fragments. When these two characters come together, they form a resultative verb construction that specifically describes the act of chopping something into very fine, small pieces, often translated as 'to mince,' 'to dice finely,' or 'to chop up.'

Culinary Context
In the kitchen, this is one of the most fundamental techniques. Whether you are preparing garlic for a stir-fry, ginger for a soup, or meat for dumplings, you are likely to be told to '切碎' the ingredients. It implies a level of fineness that goes beyond a simple chop.

先把大蒜切碎，然后放入锅中炒香。(First mince the garlic, then put it in the pot to fry until fragrant.)

Beyond the kitchen, the term can occasionally be used in more abstract or metaphorical ways, though its physical application remains the most common. For instance, in literature or emotional descriptions, one might describe a heart as being '切碎' (shattered or cut to pieces), although other terms like '破碎' are more frequent for that specific metaphor. In a mechanical or industrial context, it can describe the shredding of paper or the grinding of materials into a fine powder-like state.

Visualizing the Action
Imagine a chef's knife moving rapidly against a cutting board, creating a rhythmic sound. The larger vegetable becomes smaller and smaller until it is a pile of tiny bits. That entire process is captured by '切碎'.

把这些废纸切碎，保护我们的隐私。(Shred these waste papers to protect our privacy.)

When using this word in a sentence, it often appears in the '把' (bǎ) construction, which focuses on what happens to the object. For example, '把肉切碎' (Take the meat and chop it finely). This structure is very natural for native speakers because it emphasizes the transformation of the ingredient from its whole state to its minced state.

Comparative Nuance
Compare '切碎' with '切开' (qiē kāi). While '切开' means to cut open or cut into two, '切碎' means to keep cutting until the object is in many small pieces. The '碎' part is essential for indicating the final texture.

厨师正在熟练地将洋葱切碎。(The chef is skillfully mincing the onions.)

为了让宝宝容易消化，请把蔬菜切碎。(To make it easier for the baby to digest, please chop the vegetables finely.)

这些药草需要被切碎后才能入药。(These herbs need to be minced before they can be used in medicine.)

Using 切碎 (qiē suì) correctly involves understanding the resultative verb structure. In Chinese, verbs often combine with a resultative complement to indicate that an action has reached a certain state. Here, '切' (to cut) is the action, and '碎' (broken/fragmented) is the result. This structure is very common and powerful in Mandarin.

The '把' (bǎ) Construction
The most common way to use '切碎' is with the '把' structure. This is because '切碎' usually implies a change in the physical state of a specific object. The pattern is: Subject + 把 + Object + 切碎. For example: '我把肉切碎了' (I minced the meat).

请你把这些香菜切碎。(Please chop this cilantro finely.)

Another way to use it is in imperative sentences where the object follows the verb directly, though this feels slightly more like a command or a recipe instruction. For example: '切碎洋葱' (Chop the onions finely). In spoken conversation, adding '一下' (yīxià) after the verb can soften the tone: '帮我把这个切碎一下' (Help me mince this for a bit).

Describing the State
You can also use '切碎的' (qiē suì de) as an adjective to describe ingredients that have already been minced. For example: '切碎的姜' (minced ginger). This is very useful when reading ingredient lists in recipes.

汤里加一点切碎的葱花会更香。(Adding some finely chopped green onions to the soup will make it more fragrant.)

When discussing the degree of fineness, you might use adverbs like '尽量' (jǐnliàng - as much as possible) or '极' (jí - extremely). '把大蒜切得极碎' means to mince the garlic extremely finely. This level of detail is common in high-end culinary descriptions where the texture of the food is paramount.

Passive Voice with '被' (bèi)
In formal or descriptive writing, you might see the passive construction: Object + 被 + (Agent) + 切碎. For instance: '纸张被碎纸机切碎了' (The paper was shredded by the shredder).

所有的证据都被他切碎并烧掉了。(All the evidence was shredded and burned by him.)

他把那封信切碎了，扔进了垃圾桶。(He cut the letter into pieces and threw it into the trash can.)

如果你没有绞肉机，就只能用刀把肉切碎。(If you don't have a meat grinder, you can only use a knife to mince the meat.)

You will encounter 切碎 (qiē suì) most frequently in daily life contexts related to food preparation, domestic chores, and occasionally in professional settings like offices or laboratories. Understanding these contexts helps you realize how central this word is to functional Chinese communication.

In the Kitchen and Cooking Shows
If you watch Chinese cooking tutorials on platforms like Bilibili or YouTube, you will hear '切碎' constantly. Chefs will explain the importance of mincing aromatics like ginger, garlic, and scallions to release their essential oils. It's a technical term that every home cook knows.

视频里，厨师正演示如何快速地将辣椒切碎。(In the video, the chef is demonstrating how to quickly mince chili peppers.)

In a family setting, a parent might ask a child to help with dinner by saying, '你能帮我把这些蘑菇切碎吗？' (Can you help me chop these mushrooms finely?). It’s a common request in a collaborative cooking environment. The word is simple enough for children to understand, yet precise enough for professional use.

In the Office and Document Disposal
In a corporate environment, '切碎' is used in the context of document security. A '碎纸机' (suìzhǐjī) is a paper shredder. You might hear someone say, '把这些旧合同切碎' (Shred these old contracts). Here, the focus is on destroying the information by reducing the paper to fragments.

为了安全起见，所有含个人信息的纸张都必须切碎。(For safety's sake, all papers containing personal information must be shredded.)

In gardening or waste management, you might hear the word used for composting. '把干树叶切碎可以加快分解过程' (Chopping up dry leaves can speed up the decomposition process). This highlights the word's utility in describing any process where a whole object is broken down into smaller, more manageable bits through a cutting action.

In Medical and Biological Contexts
In a lab, researchers might need to '切碎' tissue samples for analysis. While more technical terms like '匀浆' (homogenize) might be used later, the initial physical preparation often involves basic cutting into small pieces.

实验要求我们将样本切碎到1毫米以下。(The experiment requires us to mince the sample to less than 1 millimeter.)

在制作沙拉时，把坚果切碎撒在上面会增加口感。(When making a salad, mincing nuts and sprinkling them on top adds texture.)

这种机器可以自动把厨余垃圾切碎。(This machine can automatically shred kitchen waste.)

While 切碎 (qiē suì) seems straightforward, learners often make specific errors regarding its resultative nature, its object compatibility, and its distinction from similar verbs. Avoiding these pitfalls will make your Chinese sound much more natural.

Mistake 1: Forgetting the Resultative '碎'
Learners often just say '切' when they mean 'mince.' If you say '切大蒜' (cut garlic), it just means to apply a knife to the garlic. It doesn't specify the result. To convey that you want it minced, you MUST include '碎'.

错误：请切大蒜。 正确：请把大蒜切碎。(Wrong: Please cut garlic. Right: Please mince the garlic.)

The second common mistake is using '切碎' for things that aren't actually cut with a blade. For example, if you break a glass, you wouldn't say you '切碎' it (unless you used a knife, which is unlikely). For breaking glass or porcelain, use '打碎' (dǎ suì). The '切' part specifically refers to the use of a cutting tool.

Mistake 2: Confusing '切碎' with '切块'
In cooking, size matters. '切碎' means tiny bits (minced). '切块' (qiē kuài) means chunks or cubes. If a recipe calls for chunks of potato for a stew, and you '切碎' them, the potatoes will dissolve into a mush. Always consider the target size.

做土豆炖肉要切块，而不是切碎。(To make potato stew, you should cut into chunks, not mince.)

Another error involves the placement of the object. In English, we say 'chop the onions.' In Chinese, while '切碎洋葱' is grammatically possible, it sounds much more like a direct translation from English. Using the '把' construction ('把洋葱切碎') is the hallmark of a more advanced and natural-sounding speaker.

Mistake 3: Over-applying to Abstract Concepts
While '心碎' (heartbroken) is a common idiom, you rarely say '切碎了我的心' (cut my heart to pieces). It sounds a bit too literal and gruesome. Stick to '伤透了我的心' or just '心碎' for emotional pain.

虽然他很伤心，但他不会说他的心被切碎了。(Although he is sad, he wouldn't say his heart was 'minced.')

别把布料切碎了，我还要用它做衣服。(Don't shred the fabric; I still need to use it to make clothes.)

注意：不要把指甲切碎，要用剪子剪。(Note: Don't 'mince' your nails; use clippers to cut them.)

In Chinese, there are many ways to describe 'cutting' or 'breaking' things. Choosing the right one depends on the tool you use and the final shape you want. Let's compare 切碎 (qiē suì) with its closest relatives.

切碎 vs. 剁碎 (duò suì)
'切' is a slicing motion. '剁' is a forceful chopping motion, usually with a heavy cleaver. You '切碎' vegetables, but you '剁碎' meat or bones. '剁碎' implies more power and a vertical striking motion.

剁碎：用重刀向下用力。 切碎：用刀刃来回拉动。(Mincing [duò]: use a heavy knife with force. Mincing [qiē]: use the blade in a back-and-forth motion.)

Another similar term is '绞碎' (jiǎo suì). This refers to grinding or mincing using a machine, like a meat grinder. While '切碎' is done by hand with a knife, '绞碎' is mechanical. If you buy ground pork at the supermarket, it has been '绞碎'.

切碎 vs. 切丁 (qiē dīng)
'切碎' is irregular and very fine (minced). '切丁' means to cut into neat, uniform cubes (diced). If you are making Kung Pao Chicken, you '切丁' the chicken; if you are making a garlic sauce, you '切碎' the garlic.

切丁后的胡萝卜看起来很整齐，而切碎的胡萝卜则更像泥。(Diced carrots look neat, while minced carrots are more like a paste.)

For even thinner results, you might use '切丝' (qiē sī), which means to shred or julienne into long, thin strips. This is common for ginger or potatoes. '切碎' is the final stage where those strips might be cut further into tiny bits.

Comparison Table
  • 切碎: Minced/Chop finely (Knife, slicing)
  • 剁碎: Minced/Hacked (Cleaver, heavy force)
  • 绞碎: Ground (Machine/Grinder)
  • 撕碎: Shredded (By hand, tearing)
  • 弄碎: Broken up (General/Vague method)

他把那张照片切碎了，因为他不想再看到它。(He shredded that photo because he didn't want to see it again.)

用搅拌机可以很快把水果切碎。(Using a blender can quickly chop up fruit.)

请把巧克力切碎，我们要做饼干。(Please chop the chocolate finely; we are making cookies.)

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Examples by Level

1

请切碎这个苹果。

Please chop this apple into pieces.

Basic Verb + Object structure.

2

妈妈在切碎蔬菜。

Mom is chopping vegetables.

Progressive action with '在'.

3

我不喜欢切碎的洋葱。

I don't like minced onions.

Using '切碎的' as an adjective.

4

把肉切碎。

Chop the meat finely.

Simple '把' construction.

5

你要切碎它吗？

Do you want to chop it up?

Question with '吗'.

6

他切碎了香蕉。

He chopped up the banana.

Past action with '了'.

7

大蒜要切碎吗？

Should the garlic be minced?

Topic-comment structure.

8

我会切碎西红柿。

I can chop tomatoes.

Modal verb '会' for ability.

1

请帮我把这些大蒜切碎。

Please help me mince this garlic.

Polite request with '请帮我把'.

2

他正在把纸张切碎。

He is shredding the paper.

'正在' indicates an ongoing action.

3

医生说要把药片切碎吃。

The doctor said to crush/cut the pill to eat it.

Indirect speech.

4

你把土豆切碎了吗？

Did you chop the potatoes?

'把' construction in a question.

5

我想把这些坚果切碎放进蛋糕里。

I want to chop these nuts and put them in the cake.

Expressing intention.

6

别把我的信切碎了！

Don't shred my letter!

Negative imperative with '别'.

7

妹妹把饼干切碎了喂小鸟。

Little sister crumbled the cookies to feed the birds.

Serial verb construction.

8

先把姜切碎，再放进锅里。

First mince the ginger, then put it in the pot.

Sequence with '先...再...'.

1

这把刀不快，肉切不碎。

This knife isn't sharp; the meat won't mince.

Potential complement '切不碎'.

2

他为了销毁证据，把所有文件都切碎了。

In order to destroy evidence, he shredded all the documents.

Purpose clause with '为了'.

3

你可以把葱切碎一点吗？

Could you chop the scallions a bit finer?

Comparative '一点' for degree.

4

所有的配料都必须切碎到这种程度。

All ingredients must be minced to this extent.

Resultative '到...程度'.

5

他熟练地把蘑菇切碎，动作非常快。

He skillfully minced the mushrooms; his movements were very fast.

Adverbial '熟练地'.

6

如果你把叶子切碎，它们会腐烂得更快。

If you shred the leaves, they will decompose faster.

Conditional '如果...就...'.

7

她把照片切碎，扔向了天空。

She cut the photo into pieces and threw them into the sky.

Descriptive action.

8

这台机器能在一分钟内把木头切碎。

This machine can shred wood within a minute.

Time duration '在一分钟内'.

1

这些草药被切碎后，药效更容易发挥。

After these herbs are minced, their medicinal effects are more easily released.

Passive voice with '被'.

2

厨师强调，大蒜切碎和拍碎的味道是不同的。

The chef emphasized that the flavor of minced garlic and crushed garlic is different.

Comparing two resultative verbs.

3

由于操作不当，他的手指差点被机器切碎。

Due to improper operation, his finger was almost shredded by the machine.

Adversative context with '差点'.

4

他把所有的烦恼都想象成可以切碎的纸片。

He imagined all his troubles as pieces of paper that could be shredded.

Metaphorical usage.

5

在制作这种馅料时，务必将虾仁切碎。

When making this filling, be sure to mince the shrimp.

Formal imperative '务必'.

6

虽然文件被切碎了，但专家仍然能恢复它们。

Although the documents were shredded, experts can still recover them.

Concessive '虽然...但...'.

7

这种塑料可以被切碎并循环利用。

This plastic can be shredded and recycled.

Passive potential.

8

他一边听音乐，一边有节奏地把洋葱切碎。

While listening to music, he rhythmically minced the onions.

Simultaneous actions with '一边...一边...'.

1

这种极细的切碎技术是该菜系的精髓所在。

This extremely fine mincing technique is the essence of this cuisine.

Abstract noun phrase '...的精髓所在'.

2

为了防止信息泄露，公司采用了最高等级的切碎标准。

To prevent information leakage, the company adopted the highest shredding standards.

Formal compound '切碎标准'.

3

他在作品中将传统意象切碎，重新组合成现代艺术。

In his work, he fragmented traditional imagery and recombined it into modern art.

Sophisticated metaphorical usage.

4

样本必须在零下二十度的环境中被迅速切碎。

The sample must be rapidly minced in a -20 degree environment.

Precise adverbial modifiers.

5

那种被切碎的痛楚，是他一生都无法磨灭的记忆。

That 'shredded' pain is a memory he can never erase in his life.

Highly literary/emotional use.

6

这种机器的刀片设计能确保物料被均匀地切碎。

The blade design of this machine ensures the material is uniformly shredded.

Technical '确保' clause.

7

他将那段历史切碎，只留下对自己有利的部分。

He fragmented that history, leaving only the parts beneficial to himself.

Cynical/Political metaphor.

8

在显微镜下，可以看到被切碎的细胞膜碎片。

Under the microscope, fragments of the shredded cell membrane can be seen.

Scientific observation.

1

后现代主义文学往往通过切碎叙事逻辑来挑战读者的认知。

Postmodern literature often challenges readers' cognition by fragmenting narrative logic.

Academic literary criticism.

2

这种精密仪器的切碎精度已达到微米级。

The shredding precision of this precision instrument has reached the micron level.

Extreme technical precision.

3

他在辩论中将对手的论点切碎，逐一进行驳斥。

In the debate, he tore his opponent's arguments to pieces and refuted them one by one.

Rhetorical metaphor.

4

这部电影利用切碎的剪辑风格营造出一种不安的氛围。

The film uses a fragmented editing style to create an uneasy atmosphere.

Aesthetic analysis.

5

将社会结构切碎并原子化，是某些政治理论的核心观点。

The fragmentation and atomization of social structures is a core viewpoint of certain political theories.

Sociopolitical theory.

6

这种古老的烹饪手法要求厨师在切碎食材时不损伤其纤维。

This ancient cooking technique requires the chef not to damage the fibers when mincing ingredients.

Nuanced culinary detail.

7

他的言辞如利刃般将对方的自尊切碎。

His words, like a sharp blade, shredded the other party's self-esteem.

Poetic simile.

8

实验数据被切碎后进行分布式处理，以提高运算效率。

Experimental data is fragmented and then subjected to distributed processing to improve computational efficiency.

High-level computer science.

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chop English
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