破る
やぶる
yaburu
= to tear; to rip; to break (a promise/record/barrier); to violate
破る (yaburu) captures the forceful act of tearing or breaching — whether you’re ripping a sheet of paper or shattering a long-standing record, this single verb carries the weight of something giving way under pressure.
破る (yaburu) is a transitive godan verb that describes physically tearing or ripping something apart, as well as abstractly breaking through a barrier, rule, or expectation. On the physical side, it covers tearing paper (kami o yaburu), puncturing a membrane, or forcing through a wall. On the abstract side, it extends to breaking a promise (yakusoku o yaburu), breaking a record (kiroku o yaburu), breaking the silence (chinmoku o yaburu), or violating a rule. The key nuance is force or breach — something that was whole or intact is now broken open. This distinguishes it from kowasu (to smash or destroy an object), waru (to split or divide evenly), and kiru (to cut cleanly). 破る implies a tearing-apart or transgression rather than a clean cut or a general collapse.
The most common mistake is using 破る when 壊す (kowasu) is more appropriate. Use 破る when something is torn, ripped, or breached (paper, promises, records, silence). Use 壊す when something is smashed or broken into non-functional pieces (a machine, a window). Also note that 破る is transitive — it always needs a direct object marked with を. The phrase yakusoku o yaburu (to break a promise) is particularly important to know: in Japanese culture, breaking a promise carries strong social weight tied to trust (shinrai) and reputation (mentsu), so this phrase appears frequently in serious conversation and formal writing.
The kanji 破 is composed of the radical 石 (ishi, stone) on the left, paired with a phonetic component on the right. The stone radical hints at breaking by hard, forceful contact — something struck or pressured until it gives way. This underlying sense of rupture by force carries through all uses of the word, whether tearing paper or breaching a social boundary.
Everyday use
急いでいたので、うっかり書類を破ってしまった。
Isoide ita node, ukkari shorui o yabutte shimatta.
I was in a hurry and accidentally tore the document.
Casual / Social Media
ついに自己ベストを破った！みんなありがとう！
Tsui ni jiko besuto o yabutta! Minna arigatou!
I finally broke my personal best! Thank you everyone!
Formal / Cultural context
被告は契約の条件を破ったとして訴えられた。
Hikoku wa keiyaku no jōken o yabutta toshite uttaerareta.
The defendant was sued for violating the terms of the contract.
In Japan, the act of breaking a promise — yakusoku o yaburu — carries a social gravity that goes beyond mere inconvenience. Trust (shinrai) is a foundational element of Japanese interpersonal relationships, and a broken promise can damage one’s standing (mentsu) in ways that are difficult to repair. This is reflected in how the verb 破る appears in formal apologies, workplace reprimands, and legal contexts whenever an obligation has been violated.
Beyond personal promises, 破る frequently appears in competitive and historical contexts. Breaking a record (kiroku o yaburu) is a celebrated achievement, while breaking a long-held tradition or precedent (kanrei o yaburu) can signal bold change or, depending on context, disrespect for established order. This dual character — 破る as both triumph and transgression — mirrors the kanji’s raw energy: something held intact has been forced open, for better or worse.