破坏 (pò huài) — destruction in Mandarin
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#821 most common word · HSK 5 · CEFR C1
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.
In a sentence
Zhànzhēng zàochéng le xǔduō pòhuài.
War caused much destruction.
Hear it, then say it right
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Start freeFrequently 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 #821 most frequent word in spoken Mandarin, so it is one of the first words worth learning.
Where 破坏 fits
Every HSK 5 word with tone-coloured pinyin and audio.
Words at a similar frequency
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What each tone sounds like and why it matters.
Why some tones change in connected speech.
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