Meaning
毁坏 means to severely damage or destroy something, making it unusable or beyond repair. It implies significant harm or complete destruction, whether physical objects like buildings and equipment, or abstract things like reputation or relationships. The word carries a sense of irreversible or serious damage.
Usage
毁坏 is typically used in formal or written contexts to describe serious destruction. It's stronger than simple 损坏 (to damage) and implies more severe consequences. Commonly used with buildings, facilities, cultural relics, ecosystems, or reputations. Native speakers often pair it with 严重 (serious) to emphasize the extent of damage.
Examples
- 01地震毁坏了许多古建筑。.The earthquake destroyed many ancient buildings.
- 02战争毁坏了这个国家的基础设施。.The war destroyed this country's infrastructure.
Characters
Common collocations
- 严重毁坏seriously damaged/destroyed
- 毁坏文物to destroy cultural relics
- 毁坏环境to destroy the environment
- 遭到毁坏to suffer destruction
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters relate to destruction: 毁 originally depicted using fire to destroy something, while 坏 refers to something broken or in bad condition. Together they form a compound emphasizing complete destruction.