to rupture, to split apart; to collapse; death, demise
v, 11 strokes, radical 山, rank #6401, Hard
bēng(beng1) T1
1to collapse
2to fall into ruins
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March 24, 2026
崩bēng(beng1)
The character 崩 (bēng) primarily means to collapse or fall apart. It is commonly used in contexts describing physical structures, like buildings or mountains, as well as metaphorically to refer to systems or plans that fail. Additionally, it can denote the demise of a ruler, emphasizing a significant loss or change in leadership.
Strokes11Radical山Frequency#6401DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese history, the word 崩 is often associated with the death of emperors, which signifies a major shift in political power and can affect the entire nation. This historical context gives the word a grave significance in discussions of leadership.
Memory Tip
Imagine a grand castle (the radical '山' or mountain) suddenly crumbling and collapsing under the weight of a giant boulder. The sound of its fall, 'bēng', echoes as it breaks apart, helping you remember the pronunciation and meaning.
Meanings of 崩
bēng(beng1)
1to collapse
2to fall into ruins
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 崩
崩Simplified
11Strokes
山Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#6401Frequency Rank
Podcast: 崩
Podcast: 崩
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AI Study Notes for 崩
Quick Contrast
崩 (bēng) vs 坍 (tān) — use 崩 for sudden collapse or failure, while 坍 emphasizes a gradual or complete falling down.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a grand castle (the radical '山' or mountain) suddenly crumbling and collapsing under the weight of a giant boulder. The sound of its fall, 'bēng', echoes as it breaks apart, helping you remember the pronunciation and meaning.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 崩 (bēng) with other similar-sounding characters. It is more formal and often used in literary or serious contexts when discussing failure or collapse. Common collocations include '崩溃' (bēngkuì) meaning to collapse or break down.
HSK Study Tips
Although 崩 is not an HSK level word, it connects well with other verbs describing actions or states of being. Students should focus on its usage in literary texts and try to remember the emotional weight it carries when discussing failure.
Cultural Note
In Chinese history, the word 崩 is often associated with the death of emperors, which signifies a major shift in political power and can affect the entire nation. This historical context gives the word a grave significance in discussions of leadership.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 崩 with the character 倒 (dǎo), which also relates to falling but is used in different contexts. For example, saying '桌子崩' (zhuōzi bēng) to mean 'the table collapsed' is incorrect; it should be '桌子倒了' (zhuōzi dǎo le).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 崩
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Grammar Patterns of 崩
崩 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 5
Complete the Sentence
有迹象表明该联盟现正分____离析。
There are signs that the alliance is now fraying at the edges.
Any day now the whole of European capitalism may crash.
9
凯丽女士似乎将她的精神崩溃归咎于百代唱片公司高度紧张的工作日程安排。
kǎi lì nǚ shì sì hū jiāng tā de jīng shén bēng kuì guī jiù yú bǎi dài chàng piàn gōng sī gāo dù jǐn zhāng de gōng zuò rì chéng ān pái。
Ms Carey appeared to blame her breakdown on EMI's punishing work schedule.
10
当市场崩溃时，他们认为交易会被取消。
dāng shì cháng bēng kuì shí， ， tā mén rèn wéi jiāo yì huì bèi qǔ。
When the market crashed, they assumed the deal would be cancelled.
Cultural Notes for 崩
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese history, the word 崩 is often associated with the death of emperors, which signifies a major shift in political power and can affect the entire nation. This historical context gives the word a grave significance in discussions of leadership.
Word Family of 崩
Compounds10
蹦beng4to jump
嘣beng1onomatopoetic, the sound of an explosion; bang
镚beng4dime, small coin
磞
漰
傰
剻
塴
繃beng3to bind, to strap, to draw firm
鏰
Words Containing This Character19
崩溃bēngkuìto collapse崩潰
崩bēngto collapse
崩塌talus slide
雪崩avalanche
土崩瓦解to collapse
山崩landslide
崩裂to rupture
崩坏crash崩壞
分崩离析falling to pieces分崩離析
天崩地裂fig. violent revolution
血崩metrorrhagia (vaginal bleeding outside the expected menstrual period)
崩落talus slide
礼崩乐坏cf. 禮樂|礼乐[lǐyuè]禮崩樂壞
崩毁collapse崩毀
崩坍landslide
礼坏乐崩cf. 禮樂|礼乐[lǐyuè]禮壞樂崩
崩摧to collapse
崩决to burst (of dam)崩決
崩龙族the Benglong (Penglung) ethnic group of Yunnan崩龍族
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 蹦 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 崩
Yes, while it can be used in serious contexts, it is also applicable in casual discussions about things that have fallen apart, like plans or projects.
Common phrases include '崩溃' (bēngkuì) meaning to collapse or break down, and '山崩' (shān bēng) meaning a landslide.
