decline; become impoverished
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesverb
(of a family, business) to decline; to fall into poverty
Often describes the downfall of a once-prosperous family or enterprise over time.
Tā他
zǔ祖
shàng上
céng曾
shì是
guān官
huàn宦
zhī之
jiā家
，
hòu后
lái来
zhú逐
jiàn渐
pò破
luò落
le了
。
His ancestors were an official family, but it gradually declined later.
Nà那
shì是
gè个
pò破
luò落
hù户
，
zǎo早
yǐ已
bù不
fù复
dāng当
nián年
fēng风
guāng光
。
That is a family that has fallen into poverty, long gone are its glorious days.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Yóu由
yú于
jīng经
yíng营
bù不
shàn善
，
jiā家
yè业
hěn很
kuài快
jiù就
pò破
luò落
le了
。
Due to poor management, the family business quickly went into decline.
adjective
dilapidated; rundown; in ruins
Describes buildings, places, or things that are in a state of disrepair or decay.
Cūn村
tóu头
yǒu有
yī一
zuò座
pò破
luò落
de的
máo茅
wū屋
，
hěn很
jiǔ久
méi没
rén人
zhù住
le了
。
There is a dilapidated thatched cottage at the head of the village; no one has lived there for a long time.
Zhàn战
zhēng争
guò过
hòu后
，
chéng城
lǐ里
dào到
chù处
shì是
pò破
luò落
de的
jǐng景
xiàng象
。
After the war, scenes of ruin were everywhere in the city.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Tā他
zhù住
zài在
yī一
gè个
pò破
luò落
de的
xiǎo小
yuàn院
lǐ里
。
He lives in a rundown small courtyard.