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崩塌 (bēng tā) — to collapse, to crumble

Definition

A dramatic, sudden collapse of large structures (mountains, buildings, bridges), often from natural causes. More vivid and forceful than 倒塌, which covers any falling-down.

verb
to collapseto crumble

Examples

  • 崩塌。
    Nà zuò shān zài bào yǔ hòu bēng tā le.
    That mountain collapsed after the heavy rain.
  • 崩塌。
    Dì zhèn dǎo zhì xǔ duō fáng wū bēng tā.
    The earthquake caused many houses to collapse.
  • 崩塌。
    Zhè zuò lǎo qiáo yǐ jīng bēng tā le.
    This old bridge has already collapsed.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

崩bēngcollapse
塌tācollapse

Both 崩 and 塌 describe falling apart; together they mean to collapse or crumble.

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
山山shānmountain
Sound part声符shēngfú
朋
朋péng崩bēng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

崩 uses 山 (mountain) to show a mountain collapsing, with 朋 added for the sound.

Open 崩 →

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
土土tǔdirt
Sound part声符shēngfú
𦐇
𦐇𦐇塌tā
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

塌 is built from 土 (dirt) and 𦐇, which gives its sound.

Open 塌 →
Appears in
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