Meaning

Primary

To Fold Something

Alternative

To Break Something

Word Type

transitive verb, godan verb

Explanation

This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means fold or break, so the vocab verb version is to fold something or to break something

Reading

おる
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun'yomi reading. You didn't learn that reading with this kanji, so here's a mnemonic to help you: You fold your obi (お) really carefully and put it away with the rest of your kimono.

Context

Patterns of Use

Common Word Combinations

  • 骨を折る

    to go through great trouble, to break a bone

    紙を折る

    to fold paper

    指を折る

    to bend one's fingers (usually to count)

Context Sentences

今からギョウザの皮を折るところです。

I'm about to fold the gyoza wrappers now.

もう少しで足の骨を折るところでした。

I almost broke the bone in my foot.

その紙を折った時に、指を切ってしまったんだ。

When I was folding the paper I got a paper cut.

Kanji Composition