gerissen

Gerissen is the past participle of the German verb reißen. As an adjective it means torn or ripped and is used for things that have been damaged by tearing. For example, ein gerissenes Blatt Papier or der Stoff ist gerissen. It can be used predicatively, as in Das Kleid ist gerissen, or attributively, as in ein gerissenes Stück Stoff.

The simple past of reißen is riss; the past participle is gerissen. The prefix ge- is a typical feature of many German perfect participles, and gerissen is used in both literal and figurative contexts. In everyday language it is common to encounter gerissen in phrases describing damaged materials, clothing, or paper.

Beyond the literal sense, gerissen also has a figurative meaning: clever, shrewd, or crafty. This use can carry a negative nuance, implying that someone uses cunning to gain an advantage. Examples include Er ist ein gerissener Geschäftsmann or Das war eine gerissene Taktik. The figurative sense is well established in standard German and is common in both written and spoken language.

Translations and usage notes. In its physical sense, gerissen translates to torn or ripped. In its figurative sense it can be rendered as clever, crafty, or shrewd, often with a note of prudence or disapproval depending on context. The term appears across formal and informal registers, and its interpretation relies on surrounding wording and tone.