Chinese word

烂

Pronunciation

Pinyinlàn

Meaning

  • adjectiverotten

Example

这个苹果烂了。zhè ge píng guǒ làn le

This apple is rotten.

Illustration for 烂 (rotten)

More examples

水果放久了，里面都烂掉了。shuí guǒ fàng jiǔ le lǐ miàn dōu làn diào le

If fruit is left for too long, its inside completely rots away.

Core concept

A thing breaks down from firm and usable into weak, spoiled, shabby, or seriously inferior.

Common phrases

  • 烂掉了làn diào le

    rot away

  • 烂得厉害làn de lì hài

    be badly rotten

Similar words

坏huài: Damaged in quality or function and no longer as it should be.
腐烂fǔ làn: Deeply rotten, with tissue breaking down, becoming soft, and often producing odor or liquid.
变质biàn zhì: Spoiled because its nature has changed, harming its taste, quality, or safety.
发霉fā méi: Moldy from damp conditions, with mold growing on the surface and reducing its quality.

Definition in Chinese

变坏、变质，常指食物或物品变得软烂、发臭，也可用来比喻质量很差或很糟糕。biàn huài biàn zhì cháng zhǐ shí wù huò wù pǐn biàn de ruǎn làn fā chòu yě kě yòng lái bǐ yù zhì liàng hěn chà huò hěn zāo gāo

Word origin

The character 烂 (làn, "rotten") combines 火 (huǒ, "fire") with 阑 (lán, "sound component"), and its established uses cover both material decay and broader failure in quality.

Usage tips

  • For a more precise everyday comment, speakers often name the specific defect instead of using this broad adjective, especially in polite or formal settings.

Other meanings

  • tatteredadjective
  • terribleadjective

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word