Meaning:

    “手” means “hands,” and “撕” means to “tear apart.” Literally this term means to “tear apart with one’s hands.” Traditionally there are quite a few Chinese dishes by this name such as “no-cut chicken” (手撕鸡) and “hand ripped cabbage” (手撕包菜). In 2011, there was a Chinese TV show by the name of “Kung Fu Masters Fighting Against Japanese Invasion” (《抗日奇侠》), in which a scene appalled audiences where a kung fu master literally ripped a Japanese soldier by hand. Since then, the term “rip apart” has been popular among young people, always taking the figurative meaning of “harshly criticizing or arguing with someone.”

    Example:

    A: 小丽最近怎么火气那么大？

    Xiǎolì zuìjìn zěnme huǒqì nàme da?

    Why has Xiao Li been so hot-tempered lately?

    B: 发生什么了？

    Fāshēng shénme le?

    What’s up?

    A: 今天早上她手撕新来的同事小王，因为小王昨天忘记整理会议记录了。

    Jīntiān zǎoshàng tā shǒusī xīnlái de tōngshì xiǎowáng, yīnwèi xiǎowáng zuótiān wàngjì zhěnglǐ huìyì jìlù le。

    She harshly criticized newcomer Xiao Wang this morning, because he forgot to prepare records for the meeting yesterday.