Meaning and Usage
The word 败坏 (bài huài) means 'to ruin' or 'to corrupt.' It often refers to damaging something intangible like reputation, morals, or relationships rather than physical destruction.
Common Contexts
It is frequently used in formal or serious contexts, such as discussing ethics, social behavior, or reputation. For example, it can describe how bad behavior ruins a company's image or how negative influences corrupt young people.
Collocations and Patterns
- 败坏声誉 (bàihuài shēngyù): to ruin reputation
- 败坏品德 (bàihuài pǐndé): to corrupt morals
- 败坏风气 (bàihuài fēngqì): to spoil the social atmosphere
These collocations emphasize the negative impact on abstract qualities.
Nuances
Using 败坏 implies a serious and often lasting damage, usually moral or social. It is stronger than simply 'bad' and suggests a process of degradation or corruption.
Common Confusion
Don't confuse 败坏 with 坏 (huài) alone, which can mean 'bad' or 'broken' in a more general or physical sense. 败坏 specifically highlights ruin or corruption, often in a moral or reputational sense.