Definition

1. Verb:
   • To break (silence, peace, a state): To disrupt, shatter, or put an end to a quiet, calm, or static condition, often suddenly or violently.
   • To smash; to shatter: To destroy something completely by breaking it into pieces, often referring to physical objects or abstract barriers.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Tiếng còi báo động phá tan sự yên tĩnh của buổi sáng. (The alarm siren broke the silence of the morning.)
  • Họ quyết tâm phá tan mọi rào cản. (They are determined to smash all barriers.)
  • Cuộc tấn công đã phá tan thế phòng thủ của đối phương. (The attack shattered the enemy's defensive formation.)

Advanced Usage

• "phá tan âm mưu": to foil a plot.

  • Cảnh sát đã phá tan âm mưu khủng bố. (The police foiled the terrorist plot.)

• "phá tan sự im lặng": to break the silence.

  • Không ai dám phá tan sự im lặng nặng nề trong phòng. (No one dared to break the heavy silence in the room.)

Variants and Related Words

• Phá (v): to destroy, to break, to demolish. A more general term for breaking or destroying.

  • Phá một tòa nhà cũ. (To demolish an old building.)

• Tan vỡ (v): to be broken into pieces; to disintegrate.

  • Giấc mơ của cô ấy tan vỡ. (Her dream was shattered.)

Synonyms

• Shatter: to break suddenly and violently into pieces.
• Break: to separate into pieces; to interrupt.
• Disrupt: to interrupt and prevent something from continuing as usual.
• Destroy: to put an end to something by damaging or attacking it.

Related Idioms

• Phá tan bầu không khí: to break the atmosphere/mood.
  • Một câu nói đùa vô duyên đã phá tan bầu không khí trang nghiêm. (A tactless joke broke the solemn atmosphere.)

1. Break (silence, peace)