HSK 7, unknown, 9 strokes, radical 土, rank #4868, Hard
垮
kuǎ
to defeat
HSK 7, unknown, 9 strokes, radical 土, rank #4868, Hard
kuǎ(kua3) 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#4868DifficultyHard
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
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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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.
Memory Mnemonic
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.
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.
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.
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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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
Complete the Sentence
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 shēn tǐ yǐ jīng bèi yī cháng yán zhòng de xīn zāng bìng 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。
hóng shuǐ chōng kuǎ le fǔ shān de yī zuò zhǔ yào qiáo liáng。
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。
tā mén yě xǔ huì yīn wéi gǎo kuǎ yī jiā hǎo gōng sī ér liú xià 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 zhèn dìng ér qiě jiān qiáng， ， jué bù huì kuǎ。
She's calm and strong, and she is just not going to crack.
I really can't afford to see this company go belly up.
6
电影公司垮了，克里斯没了工作，也失去了他一生的积蓄。
diàn yǐng gōng sī kuǎ le， ， kè lǐ sī méi le gōng， zuò ， yě shī qù le tā yī shēng de。
The film company collapsed, leaving Chris jobless and minus his life savings.
7
工程垮掉系环境所迫。
gōng chéng kuǎ diào xì huán jìng suǒ pò。
The reasons for the project collapsing were circumstantial.
8
听取批评意见，但不要被它击垮。
tīng qǔ pī píng yì jiàn， ， dàn bù yào bèi tā jī。
Listen to criticism but don't be crushed by it.
9
他瘦了,西装穿在身上松松垮垮的.
tā shòu le, , xī zhuāng chuān zài shēn shàng sōng sōng kuǎ kuǎ.
He had lost weight and the suit hung loosely on him.
10
我丢了工作，我的世界好像都垮掉了。
wǒ diū le gōng zuò， ， wǒ de shì jiè hǎo xiàng dū kuǎ diào。
I lost my job and it was like my world collapsed.
Cultural Notes for 垮
🏮Cultural insight
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.
Word Family of 垮
Words Containing This Character6
垮kuǎto collapse
打垮to defeat
垮台demise垮臺
累垮to collapse
压垮(fig.) to overwhelm壓垮
冲垮to burst衝垮
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 垮 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 垮
You can say, '这项计划垮了' (This plan has collapsed) to express failure.
It is primarily used in informal contexts, so be cautious when using it in formal writing.
Yes, you can use 垮 to describe feelings of defeat, such as '我感到垮掉了' (I feel like I've collapsed).
