Chinese word

破旧

Pronunciation

Pinyinpò jiù

Meaning

  • adjectiveshabby

Example

这件衣服太破旧了，我不想穿。zhè jiàn yī fú tài pò jiù le wǒ bù xiǎng chuān

This piece of clothing is too shabby, so I don't want to wear it.

Illustration for 破旧 (shabby)

More examples

这些旧书经过多年保存，封面逐渐破旧。zhè xiē jiù shū jīng guò duō nián bǎo cún fēng miàn zhú jiàn pò jiù

After these old books were kept for many years, their covers gradually became shabby.

Core concept

An everyday object whose age and damage show on its surface and reduce its practical value.

Common phrases

  • 变得破旧biàn de pò jiù

    become shabby

  • 看上去破旧kàn shàng qù pò jiù

    look shabby

Similar words

破烂pò làn: Torn, ragged, or full of holes throughout, showing a badly worn condition.
破损pò sǔn: Partly damaged, chipped, or broken so that its shape or function is affected.
老旧lǎo jiù: Aged through many years, with an old appearance and weaker performance.
陈旧chén jiù: No longer fresh or new after much time, and therefore giving an old or dated impression.

Definition in Chinese

用于形容衣物、家具、房屋等因使用时间长或损坏而显得破败、功能下降的状态。yòng yú xíng róng yī wù jiā jù fáng wū děng yīn shǐ yòng shí jiān zhǎng huò sǔn huài ér xiǎn de pò bài gōng néng xià jiàng de zhuàng tài

Word origin

破 (pò, "damaged") + 旧 (jiù, "old") combines visible damage with age, giving the word its sense of something worn down through long use.

Usage tips

  • In English, age alone can be neutral, but this adjective carries a negative judgment about condition, so it suits a damaged sofa or building more than a merely old one.

Other meanings

  • old and wornadjective
  • worn-outadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 破旧不堪pò jiù bù kānextremely shabbyidiom

Word lists with this word