Translation guide
This English phrase describes violently ripping something into fragments, either physically or metaphorically (e.g., criticizing severely). Japanese uses different verbs depending on the material, intensity, and whether the action is literal or figurative.
To rip something like paper, fabric, or thin material into small pieces using hands.
General verb for tearing or ripping paper, cloth, etc. Often implies tearing into pieces when combined with context like ずたずたに (into shreds).
彼は手紙をずたずたに破った。
He tore the letter to pieces.
To tear apart by pulling forcefully. Used for cloth, paper, or even flesh. Emphasizes the action of pulling apart.
彼女は布を引き裂いた。
She tore the cloth to pieces.
Idiomatic phrase meaning 'to tear to shreds/pieces'. Can be used with various verbs like 破る or 切る.
犬が新聞をずたずたにした。
The dog tore the newspaper to pieces.
To tear or split along a line, like tearing cloth or paper. Often used for deliberate tearing.
彼は布を真っ二つに裂いた。
He tore the cloth in two.
To rip apart flesh, animals, or bodies with force, often by predators or in violent acts.
To bite off and tear apart, as a predator does. Implies tearing with teeth.
ライオンが獲物を食いちぎった。
The lion tore its prey to pieces.
To tear apart by pulling, can be used for flesh or bodies in violent contexts.
Literally 'to tear into eight pieces', a strong expression for tearing apart violently, often used figuratively for extreme anger.
怒った民衆が彼を八つ裂きにした。
The angry mob tore him to pieces.
To harshly criticize a person, work, or idea, leaving it completely discredited or emotionally devastated.
To harshly criticize or tear apart verbally. Very common for reviews or arguments.
批評家がその映画をこき下ろした。
The critic tore the movie to pieces.
Colloquial phrase meaning 'to speak of as trash', i.e., to tear to pieces verbally.
彼は私の提案をぼろくそに言った。
He tore my proposal to pieces.
Can be used figuratively to mean 'tear to shreds' emotionally or in argument.
彼の心はその言葉でずたずたになった。
His heart was torn to pieces by those words.
To refute or defeat in argument, 'tear apart' someone's logic.
彼は相手の主張を完全に論破した。
He tore the opponent's argument to pieces.
To deliberately tear something into small bits, often for disposal or craft.
To tear into small pieces. 細かく means 'finely'.
秘密の書類を細かく破って捨てた。
I tore the secret documents to pieces and threw them away.
To tear into small pieces, often with fingers. Common for paper or bread.
パンをちぎって食べた。
I tore the bread to pieces and ate it.
破る (yaburu) is general tearing, often with force. ちぎる (chigiru) implies tearing into small pieces with fingers, often for soft items. 裂く (saku) is tearing along a line or seam, often deliberate.
The English phrase 'tear to pieces' is often figurative. Direct translation like 破片に裂く is unnatural. Use context-appropriate verbs or idiomatic phrases.
狼が羊を引き裂いた。
The wolf tore the sheep to pieces.