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破旧 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
破旧pòjiùshabbyHSK 7, unknown, 15 strokes, rank #14149, Very Hard
pòjiù(po4jiu4)po jiu T4
  1. 1shabby
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March 24, 2026

破旧(破舊)pòjiù(po4jiu4)

破旧 (pòjiù) refers to something that is old and worn out, often implying a state of disrepair or shabbiness. It can describe buildings, clothes, or items that have lost their original quality or appearance due to age and neglect. This term is commonly used to convey a sense of decline or deterioration.

Strokes15Frequency#14149DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the condition of one’s home and belongings can reflect one's social status and care for personal possessions, making 破旧 particularly relevant when discussing heritage sites or traditional versus modern living.

Memory tip

Imagine a '破' (broken) item that's '旧' (old) and tattered. Picture an old, torn jacket hanging on a rack, looking forlorn and forgotten, embodying the essence of being broken down and shabby.

Meanings of 破旧

pòjiù(po4jiu4)
1shabby
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 破旧

破旧Simplified
破舊Traditional
15Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 破旧

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Podcast: 破旧

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AI study notes for 破旧

Quick Contrast

破烂 (pòlàn) refers specifically to something that is ragged or in tatters, emphasizing the physical state of being torn or damaged, while 破旧 (pòjiù) focuses more on the general age and wear of an item.

Usage Notes

Be cautious of the context in which you use 破旧; it can carry a negative connotation, so it's more appropriate in informal settings or when describing objects rather than people. Common collocations include 破旧的房子 (shabby house) or 破旧的衣服 (worn-out clothes).

HSK Study Tips

While 破旧 may not be an HSK vocabulary word, it relates well to HSK 3 and 4 themes about description and adjectives. Students should focus on using this term alongside other adjectives to enhance their descriptive language skills.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 破旧 with 老旧; while 老旧 simply means 'old', 破旧 implies that something is also in poor condition. For example, saying '这件老旧的衣服' (this old clothing) is less precise than '这件破旧的衣服' (this shabby clothing).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 破旧

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Component characters

破pòbroken
HSK 410 strokes石
View full entry
旧jiùold
HSK 35 strokes日
View full entry

How to say shabby in Chinese

“shabby” in Chinese is破旧pòjiù

破旧 (pòjiù) refers to something that is old and worn out, often implying a state of disrepair or shabbiness. It can describe buildings, clothes, or items that have lost their original quality or appearance due to age and neglect. This term is commonly used to convey a sense of decline or deterioration.

When to use 破旧

Be cautious of the context in which you use 破旧; it can carry a negative connotation, so it's more appropriate in informal settings or when describing objects rather than people. Common collocations include 破旧的房子 (shabby house) or 破旧的衣服 (worn-out clothes).

破旧 or something close to it

破烂 (pòlàn) refers specifically to something that is ragged or in tatters, emphasizing the physical state of being torn or damaged, while 破旧 (pòjiù) focuses more on the general age and wear of an item.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 破旧 with 老旧; while 老旧 simply means 'old', 破旧 implies that something is also in poor condition. For example, saying '这件老旧的衣服' (this old clothing) is less precise than '这件破旧的衣服' (this shabby clothing).

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破
旧

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Frequently asked questions about 破旧

It's generally not appropriate to describe people as 破旧; this term is more suited for objects.

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