a flooding river; a military defeat; to break down, to disperse
zg, 15 strokes, radical 氵, rank #78388, Very Hard
kuì(kui4) T4
1a flooding river; a military defeat; to break down, to disperse
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March 24, 2026
潰kuì(kui4)
The character 潰 (kuì) primarily refers to a significant breakdown or collapse, often used in contexts such as a flooding river or a military defeat. It conveys the idea of something being overwhelmed or dispersed, leading to a loss of structure or order.
Strokes15Radical氵Frequency#78388DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese history, military defeats often led to significant political changes, making the concept of 潰 particularly poignant. The character can also be used metaphorically in literature to describe personal failures or breakdowns in relationships.
Memory Tip
Imagine a dam breaking (the water flows away), causing a river to flood (潰). The left part '氵' represents water, while the right part '圭' suggests something being overwhelmed. Picture a military commander watching their troops scatter in defeat, reinforcing the sound 'kuì' with the chaos of the situation.
Meanings of 潰
kuì(kui4)
1a flooding river; a military defeat; to break down, to disperse
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 潰
潰Simplified
15Strokes
氵Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 潰
Podcast: 潰
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AI Study Notes for 潰
Quick Contrast
崩 (bēng) refers to a sudden collapse or fall, often used in contexts like a crumbling building, while 潰 (kuì) implies a more overwhelming breakdown, such as in natural disasters or military contexts.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a dam breaking (the water flows away), causing a river to flood (潰). The left part '氵' represents water, while the right part '圭' suggests something being overwhelmed. Picture a military commander watching their troops scatter in defeat, reinforcing the sound 'kuì' with the chaos of the situation.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 潰 (kuì) with similar-sounding characters. It is typically used in more formal contexts when discussing military or natural disasters. Common collocations include '潰敗' (kuì bài - military defeat) and '潰散' (kuì sàn - to disperse).
HSK Study Tips
Although 潰 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects to HSK Level 5 themes of natural disasters and military terms. Students should focus on understanding its usage in context, particularly in literature or news reports discussing disasters.
Cultural Note
In Chinese history, military defeats often led to significant political changes, making the concept of 潰 particularly poignant. The character can also be used metaphorically in literature to describe personal failures or breakdowns in relationships.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 潰 (kuì) with similar characters like '会' (huì) or '退' (tuì). For example, saying '我会潰' (wǒ huì kuì) mistakenly implies 'I can flood', instead of using '我潰败' (wǒ kuì bài) for 'I am defeated'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 潰
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Cultural Notes for 潰
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese history, military defeats often led to significant political changes, making the concept of 潰 particularly poignant. The character can also be used metaphorically in literature to describe personal failures or breakdowns in relationships.
Word Family of 潰
Words Containing This Character13
崩溃bēngkuìto collapse崩潰
溃疡ulcer潰瘍
溃kuìto fester潰
击溃to defeat擊潰
溃烂to fester潰爛
溃败routed潰敗
溃散defeated潰散
溃不成军utterly defeated潰不成軍
溃逃to flee in disorder潰逃
溃兵defeated troops潰兵
溃决to burst潰決
一触即溃to give way at once一觸即潰
溃军routed troops潰軍
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 崩溃 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 潰
Common phrases include '潰敗' (military defeat) and '潰散' (to disperse), both of which emphasize the breakdown aspect.
It's less common in everyday speech and more often found in written language, particularly in news articles or formal discussions.
The pronunciation is 'kuì'. Make sure to use the falling tone, as this distinguishes it from other similar sounds.
