破坏 pòhuài destruction
destruction; damage; to wreck; to break; to destroy
How to remember 破坏: 破 broken + 坏 bad = destruction.
Characters
How it is used
- To damage / wreck / undermine (something abstract or physical) - 破坏环境 (pòhuài huánjìng) damage the environment; 破坏气氛 ruin the mood.
- Contrast 破坏 with 建设 (jiànshè, to build/construct) - a standard oppositional pair. Also contrast 损坏 (sǔnhuài, physically damage an object): 破坏 often means to deliberately undermine order, rules, relationships, or nature.
Example sentences
- 我认为考试破坏教育。 Wǒ rènwéi kǎoshì pòhuài jiàoyù.I think exams ruin education.
- 这次误会破坏了他们的感情。 Zhècì wùhuì pòhuài le tāmen de gǎnqíng.This misunderstanding ruined their love.
- 污染对环境造成了破坏。 Wūrǎn duì huánjìng zàochéngle pòhuài.Pollution has caused damage to the environment.