报废

• Pinyin: bào fèi
• Hanzi breakdown: 报 = 扌 (hand) + 卩 (kneeling person) phonetic; 废 = 广 (shelter) + 发 (phonetic)

Meaning

To scrap; to write off; to declare as waste; decommissioned.

The official process of declaring equipment, vehicles, or materials as no longer usable and ready for disposal. Can also be used colloquially to describe something completely ruined or a person who is exhausted beyond function.

Examples

1. 这批设备已经超过使用年限，该报废了。 This batch of equipment has exceeded its service life and should be scrapped.
2. 车祸后那辆车直接报废，修都没法修。 After the car accident, the vehicle was written off completely — it couldn't even be repaired.
3. 连续加班一个月，我感觉自己快报废了。 After a month of continuous overtime, I feel like I'm about to break down.

Usage Guide

Context: equipment, vehicles, colloquial

Tone: matter-of-fact

Do Say

• 这台电脑该报废了。(This computer should be scrapped.)
• 忙了一天，人都报废了。(After a busy day, I'm completely wrecked.)

Don't Say

• 对还能修的东西说'报废' (Don't say 报废 for things that can still be repaired — it implies something is beyond saving)

Origin & History

报 (to report) + 废 (to discard/waste). To report something as waste.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal