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垮 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
垮
kuǎ
to be defeated, to collapse, to fail
HSK 7, v, 9 strokes, radical 土, rank #4868, Very Hard
垮
kuǎ
to break or wear down
HSK 7, unknown, 9 strokes, radical 土, rank #4868, Very Hard
垮
kuǎ
to defeat
HSK 7, unknown, 9 strokes, radical 土, rank #4868, Very Hard
kuǎ(kua3)kua T3
1to be defeated, to collapse, to fail
2to break or wear down
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March 24, 2026
垮kuǎ(kua3)
The character 垮 (kuǎ) means to collapse or to fail, often in a physical or metaphorical sense. It can refer to structures falling apart, plans failing, or situations deteriorating. This term is commonly used in contexts such as discussing projects, relationships, or even personal ambitions.
Strokes9Radical土Frequency#4868DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the idea of collapse can be tied to the importance of face (面子) and reputation, particularly in business and personal relationships. A public failure or collapse can have significant social repercussions.
Memory tip
Imagine a giant 'kuǎ' (sounds like 'quack') duck that is so heavy it causes a bridge to collapse under its weight. The character 垮 has the radical for earth (土), suggesting something grounded or built upon, which helps connect to the idea of collapsing structures or foundations.
Meanings of 垮
kuǎ(kua3)
1to be defeated, to collapse, to fail
2to break or wear down
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 垮 means.
About 垮
垮Simplified
9Strokes
土Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 垮
Podcast: 垮
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AI Study Notes for 垮
Quick Contrast
崩 (bēng) — use 垮 when referring to a gradual failure or collapse, while 崩 suggests a sudden or catastrophic break.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 垮 with other similar-sounding verbs like 夸 (kuā), which means to boast. 垮 is typically used in more informal contexts, so avoid using it in formal writing. Common collocations include '垮掉' (to collapse completely) and '垮了' (to have failed).
HSK Study Tips
Though 垮 is not included in the official HSK levels, it is beneficial for students at the HSK 3-4 levels to learn as it expands vocabulary related to failure and defeat. Focus on using it in sentences to describe various situations of collapse or failure.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 垮 in contexts where 失败 (shībài) or 破产 (pòchǎn) would be more appropriate, such as saying '我垮了' (I collapsed) instead of '我失败了' (I failed). Ensure you understand the context before using 垮.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 垮
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How Well Do You Know 垮?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 垮 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
垮 = 土 + 夸. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 垮
IDS Structure⿰土夸
垮Full character
=
土Tu3
left
夸kua1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 垮?
How to say to be defeated, to collapse, to fail in Chinese
“to be defeated, to collapse, to fail” in Chinese is垮kuǎ
The character 垮 (kuǎ) means to collapse or to fail, often in a physical or metaphorical sense. It can refer to structures falling apart, plans failing, or situations deteriorating. This term is commonly used in contexts such as discussing projects, relationships, or even personal ambitions.
When to use 垮
Learners often confuse 垮 with other similar-sounding verbs like 夸 (kuā), which means to boast. 垮 is typically used in more informal contexts, so avoid using it in formal writing. Common collocations include '垮掉' (to collapse completely) and '垮了' (to have failed).
垮 or something close to it
崩 (bēng) — use 垮 when referring to a gradual failure or collapse, while 崩 suggests a sudden or catastrophic break.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 垮 in contexts where 失败 (shībài) or 破产 (pòchǎn) would be more appropriate, such as saying '我垮了' (I collapsed) instead of '我失败了' (I failed). Ensure you understand the context before using 垮.
Write 垮
垮
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Practice writing 垮 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 垮
垮 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 5
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
弗兰克的身体已经被一场严重的心脏病拖____了。
Frank had been struck down by a massive heart attack.
Example Sentences for 垮 (10)
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1
弗兰克的身体已经被一场严重的心脏病拖垮了。
fú lán kè de shēntǐ yǐjīng bèi yī chǎng yánzhòng de xīnzàngbìng tuō kuǎ le。
Frank had been struck down by a massive heart attack.
2
洪水冲垮了釜山的一座主要桥梁。
hóngshuǐ chōng kuǎ le fǔ shān de yī zuò zhǔyào qiáoliáng。
Flood waters washed away one of the main bridges in Pusan.
3
他们也许会因为搞垮一家好公司而留下恶名。
tāmen yěxǔ huì yīnwèi gǎo kuǎ yī jiā hǎo gōngsī ér liúxia è míng。
They may be remembered as the wreckers of a fine company.
4
她镇定而且坚强，绝不会垮掉。
tā zhèndìng érqiě jiānqiáng， jué bù huì kuǎ diào。
She's calm and strong, and she is just not going to crack.
