a flooding river; a military defeat; to break down, to disperse
v, 12 strokes, radical 氵, rank #22919, Very Hard
kuì(kui4)kui T4
1to be dispersed
2to break down
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March 24, 2026
溃(潰)kuì(kui4)
The character 溃 (kuì) primarily means to break down or disperse, often used in contexts where something collapses or fails, such as a military defeat or a situation that becomes chaotic. It can also refer to something festering or ulcerating, indicating a decline in health or integrity. This word is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to describe breakdowns, whether physical or metaphorical.
Strokes12Radical氵Frequency#22919DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese history, the concept of military defeat (溃败) has significant cultural weight, often associated with the lessons learned from historical battles and strategic failures. This reflects the importance placed on strategy and resilience in Chinese culture.
Memory Tip
Imagine a dam (represented by the water radical 水) that has broken down, causing water to disperse everywhere. The sound 'kuì' can be remembered as the noise of rushing water flowing uncontrollably after the dam's collapse, emphasizing the chaotic nature of the situation.
Meanings of 溃
kuì(kui4)
1to be dispersed
2to break down
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 溃 means.
About 溃
溃Simplified
潰Traditional
12Strokes
氵Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#22919Frequency Rank
Podcast: 溃
Podcast: 溃
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AI Study Notes for 溃
Quick Contrast
崩 (bēng) - use 溃 (kuì) for a breakdown that implies a gradual failure or chaos, while 崩 (bēng) suggests a sudden collapse or fall.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 溃 with similar-sounding characters that have different meanings. It is mostly used in formal contexts, especially in literature or discussions about military strategy and health. Common collocations include 溃败 (kuìbài) meaning military defeat and 溃疡 (kuìyáng) meaning ulcer.
HSK Study Tips
Though not part of the official HSK vocabulary, understanding 溃 can enhance comprehension of more advanced texts discussing military history or medical issues. Focus on its various meanings and try to relate it to other characters indicating breakdown or failure, like 崩 (bēng) and 败 (bài).
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 溃 with the character 毁 (huǐ), which means to destroy. For example, saying '他毁了' instead of '他溃了' could lead to misunderstanding the context of breakdown versus destruction.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 溃
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How Well Do You Know 溃?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 溃 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.
溃 = 氵 + 贵. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 溃
IDS Structure⿰氵贵
溃Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
贵gui4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 溃?
How to say to be dispersed in Chinese
“to be dispersed” in Chinese is溃kuì
The character 溃 (kuì) primarily means to break down or disperse, often used in contexts where something collapses or fails, such as a military defeat or a situation that becomes chaotic. It can also refer to something festering or ulcerating, indicating a decline in health or integrity. This word is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to describe breakdowns, whether physical or metaphorical.
When to use 溃
Be cautious not to confuse 溃 with similar-sounding characters that have different meanings. It is mostly used in formal contexts, especially in literature or discussions about military strategy and health. Common collocations include 溃败 (kuìbài) meaning military defeat and 溃疡 (kuìyáng) meaning ulcer.
溃 or something close to it
崩 (bēng) - use 溃 (kuì) for a breakdown that implies a gradual failure or chaos, while 崩 (bēng) suggests a sudden collapse or fall.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 溃 with the character 毁 (huǐ), which means to destroy. For example, saying '他毁了' instead of '他溃了' could lead to misunderstanding the context of breakdown versus destruction.
Write 溃
溃
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Practice writing 溃 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 溃
溃 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 5 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.
我曾经神经崩____过。那是一次痛苦的经历。
I suffered a nervous breakdown. It was a traumatic experience.
Example Sentences for 溃 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我曾经神经崩溃过。那是一次痛苦的经历。
wǒ zēng jīng shén jīng bēng kuì guò。 。 nà shì yī cì tòng kǔ de jīng。
I suffered a nervous breakdown. It was a traumatic experience.
2
“那是因为我得了溃疡，”他补充解释说。
“ “ nà shì yīn wéi wǒ dé le kuì，” yáng ，” tā bǔ chōng jiě。
