破坏

• Pinyin: pò huài
• Hanzi breakdown: 破 = 石 (stone) + 皮 (skin), to break; 坏 = 土 (earth) + 不 (not) variant, meaning damaged or bad

Meaning

To destroy; to damage; to sabotage. To cause harm to something, making it unable to function or exist as before.

Can be used for both physical destruction (破坏建筑 = destroy a building) and abstract damage (破坏关系 = ruin a relationship, 破坏规则 = violate rules, 破坏环境 = damage the environment). Carries a strongly negative connotation — it implies intentional or serious harm. Often appears in news and formal contexts.

Examples

1. 不要破坏公园里的花草树木。 Do not damage the flowers, grass, and trees in the park.
2. 这场大雨破坏了很多农田。 The heavy rain destroyed a lot of farmland.
3. 他的行为破坏了我们之间的信任。 His behaviour destroyed the trust between us.

Usage Guide

Context: environment, relationships, news

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 工厂排放的废水破坏了河里的环境。(The wastewater from the factory damaged the river environment.)
• 请不要破坏公共设施。(Please do not damage public facilities.)

Don't Say

• 我不小心破坏了这杯水。(Don't use 破坏 for accidentally spilling water — 破坏 implies serious damage. Say 我不小心把水洒了.)

Origin & History

破 means to break; 坏 means bad or damaged. Together they intensify the meaning to deliberate or severe destruction.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal