TongTong
Sign in

完蛋 (wán dàn) — (colloquial) to be done for, to be finished, to be ruined

Definition

Colloquial idiom meaning 'it's all over / done for' — something is ruined, hopeless, or failed. Stronger and more emotional than 失败 ('fail'); used for total disaster, not minor setbacks.

idiom
(colloquial) to be done forto be finishedto be ruined

Examples

  • ，完蛋。
    Wǒ de shǒu jī diào shuǐ lǐ le, zhè cì zhēn de wán dàn le.
    My phone fell into the water — this time I'm really done for.
  • ，完蛋。
    Rú guǒ kǎo shì bù jí gé, wǒ jiù wán dàn le.
    If I fail the exam, I'm finished.
  • ，完蛋。
    Bié dān xīn, hái méi dào wán dàn de shí hou ne.
    Don't worry, it's not time to give up yet.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

完wánfinish
蛋dànegg

完 “finish” and 蛋 “egg” combine colloquially to mean be done for or ruined.

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
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
元
元yuán完wán
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

完 pairs 宀 (roof) with 元, which gives the sound.

Open 完 →

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
虫虫chóngsnake, insect
Sound part声符shēngfú
延
延yán蛋dàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 蛋, the lower part 虫 is a snake or insect, and the upper part is a shortened 延 giving the sound for 'egg'.

Open 蛋 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set PhrasesSuccess & Failure3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.