🚧 ToneDeck is in active development - tap to share feedback

破坏 (pò huài) — destruction in Mandarin

huài
destruction

🔊 Tap to hear it

#827 most common word · HSK 5 · CEFR B2

Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral.

Tone breakdown

破坏 is pronounced pò huài. Tap any syllable’s row to hear the whole word.

fourth tone (sharp falling, ˋ)
huài
fourth tone (sharp falling, ˋ)

In a sentence

Zhànzhēng zàochéng le xǔduō pòhuài.

War caused much destruction.

Hear it, then say it right

Reading pinyin only gets you halfway. ToneDeck plays native audio for 破坏 and thousands more words, then scores your pronunciation so your tones land. HSK 1 is free, no install.

Start free

Frequently asked questions

What does 破坏 mean?+

破坏 (pò huài) means "destruction" in Mandarin Chinese.

How do you pronounce 破坏?+

破坏 is pronounced pò huài. It uses the tone 4 (falling). Tap the character on this page to hear native audio.

How common is 破坏 in Mandarin?+

破坏 is the #827 most frequent word in spoken Mandarin, so it is one of the first words worth learning.

Where 破坏 fits

HSK 5 · CEFR B2
See the full HSK 5 vocabulary list

Every HSK 5 word with tone-coloured pinyin and audio.

Words at a similar frequency

Master the tones first

Coming to iOS & Android

The mobile app is on the way. The trainer works right now.

ToneDeck for iPhone and Android is launching soon, and your progress syncs across every device. Meanwhile the full tone trainer runs in your browser today — no install, free to start.

Coming soon to theApp Store
Coming soon toGoogle Play
Sign up free and start training

Browse more on the Mandarin vocabulary hub, or read how to learn Mandarin tones.