Looking up...
坏
huài
bad
这个苹果坏了。
This apple is bad.
general
Not good; of poor quality or condition
这个手机坏了。
This phone is broken.
他的心情很坏。
He is in a bad mood.
Used for objects, conditions, or abstract states. Often implies failure or decay.
general
To spoil or become defective
食物放久了会坏。
Food will spoil if left too long.
电池坏了。
The battery is dead.
Commonly used for mechanical failure or food spoilage.
literary/formal
Evil or morally wrong
他做了很多坏事。
He has done many evil deeds.
Rare in modern speech; often replaced by '邪恶' or '恶劣' in formal contexts.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Distinguish 坏 and 不好
'坏' emphasizes a state of damage or failure (e.g., 电脑坏了 'the computer is broken'), while '不好' means 'not good' in a general sense (e.g., 这个主意不好 'this idea is not good').
Gold Rule
坏 as a verb
When used as a verb (e.g., 食物坏了 'food spoiled'), it often implies a natural process of decay rather than intentional damage.
Word Origin
From Old Chinese '敗' (OC *brats), meaning 'to ruin' or 'to decay'. Evolved into modern '坏' with similar meanings.
Usage Notes
坏 is a very common adjective in spoken Chinese. It can describe physical damage (e.g., 坏了), moral corruption (e.g., 坏人), or general negativity (e.g., 坏天气). In southern China, '烂' (làn) is sometimes used interchangeably with '坏' for objects.
Word Breakdown
坏
bad/damaged
root汉英词典