1. to separate into pieces suddenly or violently
（使）破裂，破碎，斷裂
Be careful not to break the glass.
小心別把玻璃杯打破了。
The branch broke under the weight of the snow.
樹枝在雪的重量下斷裂了。
Break Meaning（定義、用法、例句與發音）
break
verb
快速理解
What does "Break" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Break"?
「break」主要指使某物破裂、中斷連續狀態，或違反規則。
- 1
物理性破壞
EN: to cause something to separate into pieces, often violently or accidentally
翻譯: 使某物破裂成碎片，常指猛烈或意外地。
- 2
中斷或暫停
EN: to interrupt a continuous state or activity
翻譯: 中斷一個連續的狀態或活動。
- 3
違反或打破
EN: to fail to keep a rule, promise, or agreement
翻譯: 未能遵守規則、承諾或協議。
- 4
透露消息
EN: to make news or information known publicly
翻譯: 公開透露新聞或資訊。
小提醒：注意「break a leg」不是字面上的「打斷腿」，而是祝人「好運」的慣用語（尤其在表演前）。
發音（How to Pronounce "Break" in English）
How to pronounce "Break" in English?"Break" US vs UK pronunciation
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Break" from YouTube Videos
Steven Schwaitzberg: A universal translator for surgeons
TED
“This is a ubiquitous tool In order to break down our barriers. we have to learn to talk to people, to demand that people work on translation.”
(1 out of 130)
Definitions（定義）
What are the definitions of "Break"?How does "Break" change by context?
2. to stop working or functioning
（機器、設備等）壞掉，故障
My computer broke yesterday, and I lost all my files.
我的電腦昨天壞了，我所有的檔案都不見了。
The elevator broke down, so we had to take the stairs.
電梯故障了，所以我們必須走樓梯。
3. to interrupt an activity or state
中斷，暫停
Let's break for lunch and continue the meeting at 1 PM.
我們先暫停一下去吃午餐，下午一點繼續開會。
The loud noise broke my concentration.
巨大的噪音打斷了我的專注力。
4. to fail to keep a law, rule, or promise
違反，破壞（法律、規則、承諾）
If you break the rules, you will be penalized.
如果你違反規定，將會受到處罰。
He broke his promise to call me every day.
他破壞了每天打電話給我的承諾。
5. to make a discovery or reveal news
透露，公佈（消息）
The journalist broke the story about the corruption scandal.
那位記者率先揭露了這起貪腐醜聞。
Who is going to break the bad news to him?
誰要去把這個壞消息告訴他？
Grammar & Patterns（句型）
What are common sentence patterns for "Break"?How to make natural sentences with "Break"?
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| break + noun | 打破、損壞（某物） | He broke the window. (他打破了窗戶。) |
| break + noun + into + noun | 將…分成… | She broke the chocolate bar into pieces. (她將巧克力棒掰成小塊。) |
| break + noun + off | 折斷、中斷（某物） | He broke a branch off the tree. (他從樹上折斷了一根樹枝。) |
| break + free/loose/away | 掙脫、逃脫 | The dog broke loose from its leash. (那隻狗掙脫了牽繩。) |
| break + down | （機器）故障；（人）情緒崩潰 | My car broke down on the highway. (我的車在高速公路上拋錨了。) |
| break + out | （戰爭、火災等）突然爆發 | A fire broke out in the old building. (那棟舊建築突然發生火災。) |
| break + up | 分手；解散；破碎 | The band broke up last year. (那個樂團去年解散了。) |
| break + in | 闖入；使（新物品）逐漸合用 | Someone tried to break in last night. (昨晚有人試圖闖入。) |
| break + through + noun | 突破（障礙） | The sun finally broke through the clouds. (太陽終於突破了雲層。) |
| break + with + noun | 與…決裂；放棄（傳統） | He broke with family tradition and became an artist. (他與家族傳統決裂，成為了一名藝術家。) |
用法說明
How is "Break" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Break"?
break doing vs break to do
- break doing 通常用於描述「中斷一個正在進行的動作或狀態」。這裡的 "doing" 是動名詞，作為動詞 "break" 的受詞，強調活動本身被中斷。
- break to do 則表示「中斷（手邊的事）以便去做另一件事」。這裡的 "to do" 是不定詞，表示中斷的主要目的或後續動作，強調意圖與轉換。
- 當 "break" 用於祈使句或表示習慣時，兩種結構都可能出現，但語意焦點不同："break doing" 聚焦於停止的活動；"break to do" 聚焦於開始的新活動。 EN: He broke staring out the window when the phone rang. 翻譯: 電話響時，他中斷了凝視窗外的動作。
EN:He broke his work to answer the phone.
翻譯:他中斷工作去接電話。
總結建議
一般來說，若要強調「停止某個進行中的行為」用 break doing，若要強調「中斷以便去做另一件事」則用 break to do。
易混淆對比
What is the difference between "Break" and similar words?How to choose "Break" vs alternatives?
break vs damage
「break」強調物體分裂成碎片或功能完全失效；「damage」則指造成損害或價值降低，但不一定完全毀壞。
break vs tear
「break」用於硬物斷裂或破碎；「tear」專指軟性材料（如紙、布）被撕開。
break vs shatter
「break」是破裂的通用詞；「shatter」特指玻璃等易碎物爆裂成許多碎片。
口語用法
How is "Break" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Break"?
引述
在口語中，'break' 常用來引述或轉述他人的話，尤其是關於壞消息或令人失望的決定。 EN: I had to break it to him that the trip was cancelled. 翻譯: 我不得不告訴他旅行取消了。
EN:How are you going to break the news to your parents?
翻譯:你打算怎麼把這個消息告訴你父母？
語氣強調
'break' 與 'up'、'down'、'into' 等副詞連用時，在口語中常帶有強烈的情緒或戲劇性效果，描述關係結束、情緒崩潰或非法闖入。 EN: I heard they broke up after five years together. 翻譯: 我聽說他們在一起五年後分手了。
EN:She just broke down and started crying in the meeting.
翻譯:她就在會議上崩潰大哭起來。
停頓填充
在非正式對話中，'break' 常用於短語 'break it down' 或 'let me break this down'，作為說話者整理思緒、準備解釋複雜事情前的口頭停頓或填充。 EN: Okay, let me break this down for you: first, we need a plan. 翻譯: 好吧，讓我來跟你分析一下：首先，我們需要一個計劃。
EN:It's complicated, but if you break it down, it's just about communication.
翻譯:這很複雜，但如果你仔細分析，其實就是溝通問題。
正式寫作注意：上述口語用法，特別是作為「停頓填充」或帶有強烈情緒的短語（如 'break down crying'），在學術論文、商業報告或正式書信中應避免使用。請改用更中性的詞彙，如 'inform'、'explain in detail'、'became emotional' 等。
常見短語
What common collocations use "Break"?What fixed phrases with "Break" should I remember?
break down
verb + adverb
（機器）故障；崩潰；分解
break up
verb + adverb
分手；解散；結束
break into
verb + preposition
闖入；突然開始（做某事）
break out
verb + adverb
爆發；逃脫
break the ice
verb + noun phrase
打破僵局，活躍氣氛
break a leg
verb + noun phrase
祝你好運（常用於表演前）
break even
verb + adjective
收支平衡，不賺不賠
break the law
verb + noun phrase
違法
常見錯誤
What are common mistakes with "Break"?Which "Break" sentences look correct but are wrong?
×He had to break suddenly to avoid the dog.
✓He had to brake suddenly to avoid the dog.
「break」是打破、折斷；「brake」才是煞車。兩者發音相同，但意思和拼法完全不同。
×The child broke in the toy.
✓The child broke the toy.
「break」作為及物動詞（transitive verb）表示「打破某物」時，後面直接接賓語，不需要介系詞「in」。
×My car broke up on the highway.
✓My car broke down on the highway.
「break up」通常指關係結束或分散；「break down」才指機器故障或車輛拋錨。
×I have broken my phone yesterday.
✓I broke my phone yesterday.
「yesterday」是明確的過去時間點，應使用簡單過去式（broke）。現在完成式（have broken）不能與明確的過去時間副詞連用。
×He broke rule.
✓He broke a rule. / He broke the rule.
可數名詞「rule」前面通常需要冠詞（a/an/the）或所有格。這裡指違反了「一條規則」或「那條規則」。
×Thieves broke the house into last night.
✓Thieves broke into the house last night.
「break into」是「不及物動詞+介系詞」組成的片語動詞，意思是「闖入」，賓語必須放在整個片語後面，不能拆開。
詞形變化
What are the word forms of "Break"?What are tense/participle forms of "Break"?
breaks(3rd_singular)breaking(present_participle)broke(past)broken(past_participle)