烂

• Pinyin: làn
• Hanzi breakdown: 烂 = 火 (fire) + 兰 (orchid, phonetic), simplified from 爛

Meaning

Rotten; worn out; terrible; thoroughly. Describes decay or poor quality.

Describes physical decay (rotten fruit), worn-out condition (tattered clothes), or poor quality (bad movie). Colloquially used as an intensifier meaning 'thoroughly' in phrases like 烂熟 (know by heart). Often carries negative connotations when describing people or work.

Examples

1. 这些苹果放太久都烂了，得扔掉。 These apples have been sitting too long and are rotten; they need to be thrown away.
2. 他把这首诗背得烂熟，倒着都能背出来。 He knows this poem by heart and can recite it backwards.
3. 这部电影太烂了，浪费了两个小时。 This movie was terrible; I wasted two hours.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, criticism, food

Tone: negative

Do Say

• 肉煮烂了才好吃。(The meat tastes good only when it's cooked until tender.)
• 这家餐厅的服务烂透了。(This restaurant's service is absolutely terrible.)

Don't Say

• 这个想法很烂。(In formal settings, avoid 烂 — use 不太好 or 有待改进; 烂 is quite blunt and casual)

Origin & History

Originally 爛 with fire radical 火, depicting something decomposing or breaking down, as if burned or dissolved.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal