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千疮百孔 (qiān chuāng bǎi kǒng) — (chengyu) riddled with problems; in a disastrous state; scarred and battered

Definition

Literally 'a thousand sores and a hundred holes': a chengyu describing something severely damaged or full of problems. Works for physical, economic, or institutional ruin — stronger than 破烂.

idiom
(chengyu) riddled with problemsin a disastrous statescarred and battered

Examples

  • ，千疮百孔。
    Jīng guò zhàn huǒ de cuī cán, zhè zuò chéng shì zǎo yǐ qiān chuāng bǎi kǒng.
    After the ravages of war, this city is already riddled with problems.
  • 千疮百孔，。
    Zhè ge guó jiā de jīng jì tǐ xì yǐ jīng qiān chuāng bǎi kǒng, xū yào chè dǐ gǎi gé.
    This country's economic system is in a disastrous state and needs thorough reform.
  • 千疮百孔，。
    Tā de shēn tǐ suī rán qiān chuāng bǎi kǒng, dàn jīng shén yī rán jiān qiáng.
    Although his body is scarred and battered, his spirit remains strong.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

千疮
千qiānthousand疮chuāngsore
偏正Modifier + head
百孔
百bǎihundred孔kǒnghole
偏正Modifier + head

千疮, many sores, and 百孔, many holes, together describe a ruined state.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
一一yīone, signifying a number
Sound part声符shēngfú
人
人rén千qiān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

千 pairs 人, whose sound was similar, with 一, a number stroke; the extra line was explained as extension, and a thousand is a number reached by extending counting.

Open 千 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 疮 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
一一yī
Sound part声符shēngfú
白
白bái百bǎi
Same sound today

百 combines 一, which carries the number meaning, with 白, which provides the sound.

Open 百 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 丿丿piěopening
  • 子子zǐchild

孔 pairs 丿 (an opening) with 子 (a child), showing an opening in a newborn's skull.

Open 孔 →
Appears in
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