崩 (bēng) - collapse, fall apart, crumble & die (of an emperor)

崩Tone 1

bēng ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

傲不

崩 · bēng

collapse, fall apart, crumble;

die (of an emperor);

breakdown;

burst

collapse, fall apart, crumbledie (of an emperor)breakdown

Usage highlights

collapselandslidedeath of an emperorbreakdownbursteconomic collapse

Synonyms

  • 塌— collapse, fall down
  • 垮— collapse, break down
  • 溃— burst, collapse

Antonyms

  • 立— stand, establish
  • 建— build, construct
  • 固— solid, firm

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The mountain collapsed (山崩) after the earthquake.
  • The economic system is breaking down (经济崩溃).
  • The emperor passed away (皇帝驾崩).
  • The balloon burst (气球崩了).

Collocations

  • collapse(崩溃)
  • landslide(山崩)
  • death of an emperor(驾崩)
  • breakdown(崩坏)
  • burst(崩裂)
  • economic collapse(经济崩溃)

Idioms

  • The collapse of Mount Tai and the cracking of the beam(泰山崩，梁木摧)
  • From collapse to revival(崩而复振)
  • Utterly collapse and beyond redemption(崩剥不振)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically used specifically for the death of emperors (驾崩), reflecting the hierarchical language of imperial China.
  • The character conveys a sense of sudden, catastrophic failure or destruction, often on a large scale.
  • In modern usage, frequently appears in terms describing psychological, economic, or systemic breakdowns.

FAQ