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崩溃 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
崩溃
bēngkuì
to collapse
HSK 7, v, 23 strokes, rank #2688, Very Hard
崩溃
bēngkuì
to crumble
HSK 7, v, 23 strokes, rank #2688, Very Hard
崩溃
bēngkuì
to fall apart
HSK 7, v, 23 strokes, rank #2688, Very Hard
bēngkuì(beng1kui4)beng kui T1
1to collapse
2to crumble
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March 24, 2026
崩溃(崩潰)bēngkuì(beng1kui4)
崩溃 (bēng kuì) refers to a process of collapse or breakdown, often used to describe physical structures, emotional states, or systems that fail under pressure. It can be used in both literal and figurative contexts, such as a bridge collapsing or a person experiencing a mental breakdown.
Strokes23Frequency#2688DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
The concept of 崩溃 resonates with the pressures of modern life in China, where high expectations and stress can lead to burnout or mental health issues. It reflects a growing awareness of mental health in contemporary Chinese society.
Memory tip
Imagine a huge dam (the character 崩, which looks like a broken wall) that suddenly gives way, causing water to burst forth and flood everything (溃, which resembles a wave crashing down). The sound of the crash, 'bēng', echoes as everything falls apart.
Meanings of 崩溃
bēngkuì(beng1kui4)
1to collapse
2to crumble
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 崩溃
崩溃Simplified
崩潰Traditional
23Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#2688Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 崩溃
Podcast: 崩溃
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AI study notes for 崩溃
Quick Contrast
崩溃 (collapse) vs 失败 (fail) — use 崩溃 when referring specifically to a breakdown or collapse, rather than a general failure.
Usage Notes
崩溃 is often used informally when discussing emotional distress, so be cautious of the context in which you use it. Common collocations include '精神崩溃' (mental collapse) and '系统崩溃' (system crash). Watch out for the tonal differences, as mispronouncing the tones can change the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 崩溃 connects to other advanced vocabulary related to emotions and structural integrity. Focus on practicing its usage in both written and spoken contexts, especially in discussions about mental health or engineering.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 崩溃 with other words like 失败 (failure) or 崩溃 (collapse), using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我的计划崩溃' (my plan collapsed) might be incorrect if referring to a minor setback; use '失败' for that context instead.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 崩溃
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崩溃 (bēng kuì) refers to a process of collapse or breakdown, often used to describe physical structures, emotional states, or systems that fail under pressure. It can be used in both literal and figurative contexts, such as a bridge collapsing or a person experiencing a mental breakdown.
When to use 崩溃
崩溃 is often used informally when discussing emotional distress, so be cautious of the context in which you use it. Common collocations include '精神崩溃' (mental collapse) and '系统崩溃' (system crash). Watch out for the tonal differences, as mispronouncing the tones can change the meaning entirely.
崩溃 or something close to it
崩溃 (collapse) vs 失败 (fail) — use 崩溃 when referring specifically to a breakdown or collapse, rather than a general failure.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 崩溃 with other words like 失败 (failure) or 崩溃 (collapse), using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我的计划崩溃' (my plan collapsed) might be incorrect if referring to a minor setback; use '失败' for that context instead.
Write 崩溃
崩
溃
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Grammar patterns of 崩溃
崩溃 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 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 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我曾经神经____过。那是一次痛苦的经历。
I suffered a nervous breakdown. It was a traumatic experience.
Example sentences for 崩溃 (15)
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1
我曾经神经崩溃过。那是一次痛苦的经历。
wǒ céngjīng shénjīng bēngkuì guò。 nà shì yī cì tòngkǔ de jīnglì。
I suffered a nervous breakdown. It was a traumatic experience.
If no emergency measures are taken, this bridge might collapse during an earthquake.
15
面对巨大的压力，他的心理防线终于崩溃了。
Miànduì jùdà de yālì, tā de xīnlǐ fángxiàn zhōngyú bēngkuì le.
Facing immense pressure, his psychological defenses finally collapsed.
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Cultural Notes for 崩溃
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, the idea of 'breaking down' often emphasizes individual resilience, while in Chinese culture, it may reflect societal pressures and expectations as contributing factors to collapse.
Frequently asked questions about 崩溃
No, it can be used for both physical and emotional contexts.
It is generally informal, often used in everyday conversation rather than formal writing.
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