Hanzi Now
CharactersIdiomsChinese NameFlashcards
Tools

Visual content

  • Chinese Text Image GeneratorCreate PNGs with pinyin, highlight character parts or remove strokes
  • Stroke Order AnimatorTurn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4
  • Character Highlight AnimatorChoose character parts and animate their colors, together or in stroke order
  • Chinese Text Morph AnimatorTurn one Chinese character, word or phrase into another; download SVG, MP4 or WebM

Audio content

  • Chinese Text to SpeechRead Chinese aloud with karaoke highlighting

Teaching materials

  • Writing WorksheetsPrintable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion
  • Bingo CardsPicture and word Bingo for your class
  • Picture WorksheetsChinese and English fill-in vocabulary worksheets

Other

  • Pinyin GeneratorConvert Chinese text to pinyin with tone marks
  • Chinese Zodiac CalculatorFind your animal sign from your birth date and make a zodiac card.
  • Chinese Word CounterCount characters, words and sentences in Chinese text
View all tools →
破罐破摔
破罐破摔
破罐破摔
破罐破摔
破罐破摔
破罐破摔
破罐破摔
破罐破摔

破罐破摔 — “To abandon oneself to despair and make a bad situation even worse”

破罐破摔 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to abandon oneself to despair and make a bad situation even worse”. To give up entirely and behave recklessly after an initial mistake or setback. Literally, “Smash an already broken pot”.

Frequency

破罐破摔 Pronunciation and Pinyin

破罐破摔 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order
CharacterPinyinStrokesMeaning
破
pò10break, destroy, or defeat
罐
guàn23jar, pot, or can
破
pò10break, destroy, or defeat
摔
shuāi14throw or fall down forcefully

Example Sentence with 破罐破摔

小明考试没考好,不是反思错误,反而破罐破摔,彻底放弃了学习。
Xiao Ming didn't do well on the exam. Instead of reflecting on his mistakes, he threw caution to the winds and completely gave up on studying.

Idioms Related to 破罐破摔

Synonyms of 破罐破摔

  • pò破guàn罐zi子pò破shuāi摔give up on something already broken

More idioms starting with 破

  • pò破yè业shī失chǎn产lose family fortune and property
  • pò破chǎn产dàng荡yè业go bankrupt and lose everything
  • pò破jūn军shā杀jiāng将Shatter the army and slay the general
  • pò破luǎn卵qīng倾cháo巢destroy completely and ruthlessly
  • pò破kǒu口dà大mà骂curse someone out loudly
  • pò破kǒu口nù怒mà骂curse loudly and harshly
  • pò破kǒu口tòng痛mà骂to curse someone out
  • pò破guó国wáng亡zōng宗ruined state, extinguished lineage
  • pò破guó国wáng亡jiā家realm broken and family destroyed
  • pò破jiān坚cuī摧gāng刚Break through strong defenses
  • pò破bì壁fēi飞qù去achieve sudden prominence or success
  • pò破ké壳ér而chū出break out of the shell

Recommended tools

Writing Worksheets

Printable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion

Open the tool →

Bingo Cards

Picture and word Bingo for your class

Open the tool →

Character Highlight Animator

Choose character parts and animate their colors, together or in stroke order

Open the tool →

Chinese Text Image Generator

Create PNGs with pinyin, highlight character parts or remove strokes

Open the tool →

Questions about 破罐破摔

What does 破罐破摔 mean?

破罐破摔 (pò guàn pò shuāi) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to abandon oneself to despair and make a bad situation even worse”.

How do you pronounce 破罐破摔?

破罐破摔 is pronounced pò guàn pò shuāi in Mandarin Chinese.

What does 破罐破摔 literally mean?

Literally, 破罐破摔 means “Smash an already broken pot”. It is used to mean “to abandon oneself to despair and make a bad situation even worse”.

What is the Chinese definition of 破罐破摔?

把破损的罐子摔破。比喻有了缺点、错误不改正,反而有意向更坏的方向发展。

Hanzi Now

Explore the charm of Chinese language

Explore

  • Characters
  • Idioms
  • Chinese Names
  • Flashcards

Tools

  • Chinese Text Image Generator
  • Stroke Order Animator
  • Character Highlight Animator
  • Bingo Cards
  • Picture Worksheets
  • All Tools

More

  • Blog
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
© 2026 Hanzi NowContact Us