Translation guide
To tear something into pieces, often forcefully or completely.
To destroy paper, cloth, or similar material by pulling it apart into pieces.
General verb for tearing or ripping something, such as paper or cloth. Can imply tearing into pieces or just tearing once.
He ripped up the letter.
To tear apart forcefully, often with hands. Emphasizes the action of pulling apart.
She ripped up the cloth.
To tear into shreds or tatters. Emphasizes the result of being completely ripped up.
He angrily ripped up the documents into shreds.
To pull something out of the ground or from a surface, often destroying it in the process.
To end an agreement, contract, or plan abruptly.
The English 'rip up' can be literal (tearing paper) or figurative (canceling a contract). In Japanese, different verbs are used for each. Do not use 破る for canceling a contract; use 破棄する instead.
I ripped up the wallpaper.
約束を反故にした。
He ripped up his promise.