(kuǎ) — to collapse (physically or figuratively)

Definition

垮 (kuǎ) covers both physical collapse (buildings, health) and figurative collapse (companies, systems). It's more vivid than 倒 (mostly physical) and less abstract than 崩溃 (purely figurative breakdown).

verb
to collapse (physically or figuratively)

Examples

  • Nà zuò jiù fáng zi zhōng yú kuǎ le.
    That old house finally collapsed.
  • Cháng qī láo lèi ràng tā de shēn tǐ kuǎ le.
    Long-term fatigue caused his body to collapse.
  • Guǎn lǐ bú shàn dǎo zhì zhěng gè gōng sī kuǎ le.
    Poor management caused the entire company to collapse.

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