溃 (kuì) - to be routed & to break down

溃Tone 4

kuì ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

俊梁

溃 · kuì

to be routed;

to break down;

to fester;

to overflow;

to scatter

to be routedto break downto fester

Usage highlights

to be defeatedto collapseto burstto festerto scatterto flee in disorder

Synonyms

  • 败— to defeat; to fail
  • 垮— to collapse; to break down

Antonyms

  • 胜— to win; to triumph
  • 固— solid; firm

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The army was completely routed (溃败).
  • The dam burst under the pressure (溃堤).
  • The wound became infected and festered (溃烂).
  • The system collapsed under the load (系统崩溃).

Collocations

  • to be defeated(溃败)
  • to collapse(崩溃)
  • to burst(溃决)
  • to fester(溃烂)
  • to scatter(溃散)
  • to flee in disorder(溃逃)

Idioms

  • Collapse like an ant nest(溃于蚁穴)
  • To flee helter-skelter(溃不成军)
  • The dike of a thousand li is destroyed by an ant hole(千里之堤，溃于蚁穴)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Often used in military contexts to describe the complete breakdown of formations and morale.
  • Medical usage refers to the breakdown of tissue, as in ulcers or festering wounds.
  • Appears in cautionary idioms about small problems leading to major disasters.

FAQ