捡破烂 (jiǎn pò làn) — to scavenge for trash or recyclables; (figurative) to collect worthless things; to be overly frugal or undiscriminating

Definition

A colloquial verb meaning 'to scavenge for scraps/recyclables' — often describes someone poor picking through trash to sell it. Used figuratively (e.g. 别什么都往家里拿) for someone who keeps worthless things.

verb
to scavenge for trash or recyclables(figurative) to collect worthless thingsto be overly frugal or undiscriminating

Examples

  • 捡破烂。
    Tā měi tiān zài jiē shàng jiǎn pò làn.
    He scavenges for trash on the streets every day.
  • ，。
    Lǎo rén jiǎn le yí bèi zi pò làn, zǎn le diǎn qián.
    The old man scavenged for a lifetime and saved a little money.
  • ，捡破烂。
    Bié shén me dōu wǎng jiā lǐ ná, nǐ yòu bú shì jiǎn pò làn de.
    Don't bring everything home — you're not a scavenger.

Origin

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 撿; 捡 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
僉
僉qiān撿jiǎn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 撿 pairs 手 (hand) with 僉, which gives the sound; the simplified 捡 is a later abbreviation.

Open 捡 →

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
石石shí
Sound part声符shēngfú
皮
皮pí破pò
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

破 has 石 (stone) as its meaning part and 皮 as its sound part.

Open 破 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 爛; 烂 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
火火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
闌
闌lán爛làn
Same sound today

The form 爛 pairs 火 (fire) with 闌 as the sound part; this explains 爛, not the simplified 烂.

Open 烂 →

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