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一塌糊涂 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
一塌糊涂yìtāhútúmuddled and completely collapsing (idiom); in an awful conditionHSK 7, unknown, 39 strokes, rank #6924, Very Hard
一塌糊涂yìtāhútúcomplete shamblesHSK 7, unknown, 39 strokes, rank #6924, Very Hard
一塌糊涂yìtāhútúa total messHSK 7, unknown, 39 strokes, rank #6924, Very Hard
yìtāhútú(yi4ta1hu2tu2)yi ta hu tu T1
  1. 1muddled and completely collapsing (idiom); in an awful condition
  2. 2complete shambles
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March 24, 2026

一塌糊涂(一塌糊塗)yìtāhútú(yi4ta1hu2tu2)

一塌糊涂 is an idiom used to describe a situation that is completely chaotic or in disarray. It conveys a sense of total failure or messiness, often used in contexts such as describing a project that has gone wrong or personal situations that are out of control.

Strokes39Frequency#6924DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

This idiom can reflect the high expectations in Chinese society, where failure or disorder may be viewed more harshly. It also connects to the cultural value placed on harmony and order, making the concept of a 'total mess' particularly significant.

Memory tip

Imagine a house that has collapsed ('一塌') and is now covered in mud ('糊涂'). Visualize someone trying to clean up the mess but only making it worse, emphasizing the total chaos. This vivid imagery connects the pronunciation 'yi1 ta1 hu2 tu5' to the meaning of complete disarray.

Meanings of 一塌糊涂

yìtāhútú(yi4ta1hu2tu2)
1muddled and completely collapsing (idiom); in an awful condition
2complete shambles
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About 一塌糊涂

一塌糊涂Simplified
一塌糊塗Traditional
39Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 一塌糊涂

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Podcast: 一塌糊涂

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AI study notes for 一塌糊涂

Quick Contrast

乱七八糟 (luànqībāzāo) — use 一塌糊涂 for more emphasis on total failure, while 乱七八糟 can imply disorder without the same level of chaos.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to use 一塌糊涂 in overly formal contexts, as it is more suited for informal conversations. Common collocations include using it to describe work, relationships, or events that have gone awry. Remember that the tone can change the meaning; ensure correct pronunciation.

HSK Study Tips

While 一塌糊涂 is not an HSK level vocabulary item, it can be useful for advanced learners to understand idiomatic expressions in Chinese. Students should focus on the context in which idioms are used and try to relate them to similar expressions in their own languages.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 一塌糊涂 to describe minor inconveniences, but it should convey a sense of total chaos. For example, saying '我的书桌一塌糊涂' (My desk is a total mess) is more appropriate than saying '我的书有点乱' (My books are a little messy).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 一塌糊涂

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Idiom spotlight: 一塌糊涂

Chengyu origin story
Literal meaning:one collapse muddy confusion

Component characters

一yīone
HSK 11 strokes一
View full entry
塌tāto collapse
HSK 713 strokes土
View full entry
糊húcongee
HSK 715 strokes米
View full entry
涂túto apply (paint etc)
HSK 710 strokes氵
View full entry

How to say muddled and completely collapsing (idiom); in an awful condition in Chinese

“muddled and completely collapsing (idiom); in an awful condition” in Chinese is一塌糊涂yìtāhútú

一塌糊涂 is an idiom used to describe a situation that is completely chaotic or in disarray. It conveys a sense of total failure or messiness, often used in contexts such as describing a project that has gone wrong or personal situations that are out of control.

When to use 一塌糊涂

Be careful not to use 一塌糊涂 in overly formal contexts, as it is more suited for informal conversations. Common collocations include using it to describe work, relationships, or events that have gone awry. Remember that the tone can change the meaning; ensure correct pronunciation.

一塌糊涂 or something close to it

乱七八糟 (luànqībāzāo) — use 一塌糊涂 for more emphasis on total failure, while 乱七八糟 can imply disorder without the same level of chaos.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 一塌糊涂 to describe minor inconveniences, but it should convey a sense of total chaos. For example, saying '我的书桌一塌糊涂' (My desk is a total mess) is more appropriate than saying '我的书有点乱' (My books are a little messy).

Write 一塌糊涂

一
塌
糊
涂

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Frequently asked questions about 一塌糊涂

It's generally too informal for a formal report; consider using '混乱' (hùn luàn) instead.

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