Definition

1. Verb (literary, historical):
   • To violate a poetic rule / to break from metrical convention: The original, classical meaning refers to intentionally deviating from the established rules of prosody (e.g., tone patterns, syllable count) in regulated verse forms like "thơ Đường luật" (Tang dynasty regulated verse).
   • To break the mold / to depart from convention: In modern, extended usage, it means to deliberately break away from traditional, rigid, or customary ways of doing things in order to innovate or create a new style.

Usage Examples

• Verb (historical/literary):
  • Nhà thơ đã cố tình phá cách trong bài thơ thất ngôn bát cú. (The poet intentionally violated the prosodic rules in the eight-line, seven-character regulated verse poem.)
• Verb (modern):
  • Nhà thiết kế này nổi tiếng với những bộ sưu tập phá cách. (This designer is famous for his/her unconventional collections.)
  • Cô ấy không ngại phá cách để tìm ra giải pháp sáng tạo. (She is not afraid to break the mold to find a creative solution.)

Advanced Usage

• Used as an adjective in compound structures: "tính phá cách" (innovative/unconventional character), "tư duy phá cách" (unconventional thinking).
  • Tính phá cách trong nghệ thuật của ông đã gây nhiều tranh cãi. (The innovative character of his art has caused much controversy.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sự phá cách (n): The act of breaking conventions; innovation by breaking rules.
• Người phá cách (n): A rule-breaker; an innovator; a nonconformist.

Synonyms

• Innovate: to introduce something new or make changes.
• Break with tradition: to stop following traditional methods.
• Defy convention: to openly resist or ignore customary rules.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Phá vỡ khuôn mẫu: To break the stereotype/mold. (A near-synonymous phrase in modern usage.)
  • Anh ấy luôn muốn phá vỡ khuôn mẫu trong công việc. (He always wants to break the mold in his work.)

1. (cũ) Violate the rule of prosody