Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== pò guànzi pò shuāi: 破罐子破摔 - To Give Up on Oneself, "Since it's broken, let's smash it" ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** pò guànzi pò shuāi, poguanziposhuai, 破罐子破摔, give up on oneself Chinese idiom, self-destructive behavior Chinese, since it's bad make it worse, Chinese chengyu hopelessness, defeatist attitude, what does po guanzi po shuai mean, throwing in the towel Chinese * **Summary:** The Chinese idiom **破罐子破摔 (pò guànzi pò shuāi)** vividly describes a self-destructive attitude of giving up completely when a situation is already bad. Literally meaning "a broken pot, brokenly smashed," it captures the feeling of someone who, facing a setback or flaw, decides to abandon all effort and let things get even worse. This entry explores the cultural context behind this expression of hopelessness and defiance, provides practical examples for modern Chinese, and explains how to use it correctly to describe someone who has 'thrown in the towel' in a reckless and self-damaging way. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** pò guànzi pò shuāi * **Part of Speech:** Chengyu (Idiom) / Verb Phrase * **HSK Level:** N/A * **Concise Definition:** To deliberately worsen a bad situation or give up on oneself out of despair or defiance. * **In a Nutshell:** Imagine you have a clay pot that gets a crack. Instead of trying to fix it or use it carefully, you get so frustrated that you smash it on the ground. This idiom applies that logic to people and situations. When someone realizes they're already in a bad state (e.g., failing a class, having a bad reputation), they might adopt a `破罐子破摔` attitude, thinking "What's the point anymore?" and actively behaving worse, abandoning all hope for improvement. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **破 (pò):** To break; broken; damaged. * **罐子 (guànzi):** A pot, jar, or can. * **破 (pò):** In this context, it functions adverbially, meaning "in a broken/damaged manner." * **摔 (shuāi):** To smash; to throw down; to fall. The characters literally combine to paint a picture: "a broken pot (破罐子), smashed in a broken manner (破摔)". The imagery is powerful and direct. Something is already imperfect (the cracked pot), and out of frustration or hopelessness, the owner decides to destroy it completely (smashing it). This perfectly mirrors the human behavior of abandoning a flawed self or situation instead of trying to salvage it. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== The idiom `破罐子破摔` is deeply rooted in a cultural context that values perseverance (坚持 - jiānchí), resilience, and maintaining "face" (面子 - miànzi). To engage in `破罐子破摔` is to do the opposite of these things; it's seen as a sign of weakness, irresponsibility, and a lack of character. It's an admission of defeat, but one that is defiant and self-harming rather than gracefully accepting. **Comparison to Western Concepts:** This idiom is often compared to "throwing in the towel" or "cutting off one's nose to spite one's face," but there are key differences: * **"Throwing in the towel"** implies surrender and cessation of effort. `破罐子破摔` is more active; it's not just stopping, it's making things //worse// on purpose. * **"Cutting off one's nose to spite one's face"** involves self-harm to hurt //someone else//. `破罐子破摔` is more introspective; the self-harm stems from internal despair about one's own perceived failures, not necessarily as a means to spite another person. It's the ultimate act of giving up on //oneself//. Using this idiom is almost always a form of criticism, expressing disappointment in someone's lack of fighting spirit. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== `破罐子破摔` is a common idiom used in everyday conversation, online forums, and even news commentary. It is informal and carries a strong negative connotation. * **In Education:** A student failing a few exams might adopt this attitude, thinking "I'm already a bad student, so why bother studying at all?" They might then proceed to skip class and not do any homework. * **In Personal Life:** Someone on a diet who eats one cookie might think, "Well, I've already ruined my diet for today," and then proceed to eat the entire box. This is a perfect example of a `破罐子破摔` mentality. * **In the Workplace:** An employee who receives a negative performance review might decide there's no hope for a promotion and begin to slack off, arrive late, and put in minimal effort, thereby guaranteeing further poor reviews. * **On Social Media:** It's often used to describe one's own moments of weakness in a self-deprecating way, or to criticize public figures or companies who, after a scandal, seem to make increasingly poor decisions. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 考试没考好，他不但不努力，反而开始**破罐子破摔**，天天玩游戏。 * Pinyin: Kǎoshì méi kǎo hǎo, tā bùdàn bù nǔlì, fǎn'ér kāishǐ **pò guànzi pò shuāi**, tiāntiān wán yóuxì. * English: After doing poorly on the exam, not only did he not work harder, but on the contrary, he started to give up completely and just plays video games every day. * Analysis: This is a classic use case, describing a student's self-destructive response to academic failure. * **Example 2:** * 别因为一次失败就**破罐子破摔**，你还有很多机会。 * Pinyin: Bié yīnwèi yī cì shībài jiù **pò guànzi pò shuāi**, nǐ hái yǒu hěnduō jīhuì. * English: Don't just throw it all away because of one failure; you still have many chances. * Analysis: This sentence is used as advice or encouragement, warning someone against this negative mindset. * **Example 3:** * 我知道我的名声已经不好了，但我也不能**破罐子破摔**啊。 * Pinyin: Wǒ zhīdào wǒ de míngshēng yǐjīng bù hǎo le, dàn wǒ yě bù néng **pò guànzi pò shuāi** a. * English: I know my reputation is already bad, but I can't just give up on myself. * Analysis: A self-reflective use of the term. The speaker acknowledges their bad situation but resolves *not* to fall into this trap. * **Example 4:** * 这家公司在丑闻之后，似乎采取了**破罐子破摔**的策略，产品质量越来越差。 * Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī zài chǒuwén zhīhòu, sìhū cǎiqǔ le **pò guànzi pò shuāi** de cèlüè, chǎnpǐn zhìliàng yuèláiyuè chà. * English: After the scandal, this company seems to have adopted a "let's just smash the broken pot" strategy, with product quality getting worse and worse. * Analysis: This shows how the idiom can be applied to entities like companies, not just individuals. * **Example 5:** * 他跟女朋友吵架后，就开始**破罐子破摔**，故意去跟别的女孩聊天。 * Pinyin: Tā gēn nǚpéngyǒu chǎojià hòu, jiù kāishǐ **pò guànzi pò shuāi**, gùyì qù gēn bié de nǚhái liáotiān. * English: After fighting with his girlfriend, he went into self-destruct mode and deliberately started chatting with other girls. * Analysis: This example highlights the defiant, self-sabotaging nature of the idiom in the context of a relationship. * **Example 6:** * 减肥计划第一天就失败了，我真想**破罐子破摔**，把冰箱里的蛋糕全吃了。 * Pinyin: Jiǎnféi jìhuà dì yī tiān jiù shībài le, wǒ zhēn xiǎng **pò guànzi pò shuāi**, bǎ bīngxiāng lǐ de dàngāo quán chī le. * English: My diet plan failed on the very first day, I really feel like giving up and eating all the cake in the fridge. * Analysis: A common, self-deprecating use related to personal goals. The speaker is describing the *temptation* to act this way. * **Example 7:** * 你不能因为大家觉得你懒，就真的**破罐子破摔**，什么都不做了。 * Pinyin: Nǐ bù néng yīnwèi dàjiā juédé nǐ lǎn, jiù zhēn de **pò guànzi pò shuāi**, shénme dōu bù zuò le. * English: You can't just give up and do nothing simply because everyone thinks you're lazy. * Analysis: This is a form of admonishment, urging someone not to live down to a negative label they've been given. * **Example 8:** * 他的态度就是典型的**破罐子破摔**，反正已经迟到了，索性就慢慢走。 * Pinyin: Tā de tàidù jiùshì diǎnxíng de **pò guànzi pò shuāi**, fǎnzheng yǐjīng chídào le, suǒxìng jiù mànmàn zǒu. * English: His attitude is a classic case of "smashing the broken pot"; since he was already late, he just decided to walk slowly. * Analysis: This shows a small, everyday example of the logic behind the idiom. The initial problem (being late) leads to behavior that makes it worse (walking slower). * **Example 9:** * 你难道就准备这样**破罐子破摔**下去吗？ * Pinyin: Nǐ nándào jiù zhǔnbèi zhèyàng **pò guànzi pò shuāi** xiàqù ma? * English: Are you really just going to continue on this self-destructive path? * Analysis: A rhetorical question used to confront someone about their negative behavior, carrying a tone of disappointment or disbelief. * **Example 10:** * 与其**破罐子破摔**，不如想想怎么弥补。 * Pinyin: Yǔqí **pò guànzi pò shuāi**, bùrú xiǎngxiang zěnme míbǔ. * English: Rather than giving up and making things worse, it would be better to think about how to make amends. * Analysis: This sentence structure "与其 A, 不如 B" (yǔqí A, bùrú B - rather than A, it's better to do B) is a great way to use the idiom to offer constructive advice. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **Not Just "Giving Up":** A common mistake is to equate `破罐子破摔` with simply "giving up" (放弃 - fàngqì). `放弃` is often a neutral or even wise decision (e.g., "giving up smoking"). `破罐子破摔` is never positive. It crucially includes an element of *active self-sabotage* or *making the situation worse* out of spite or despair. * **Correct:** 既然考试已经不及格了，他开始**破罐子破摔**，撕掉了课本。(Since he already failed the test, he went into self-destruct mode and tore up his textbook.) * **Incorrect Nuance:** 我**破罐子破摔**了学钢琴。(I've given up on learning piano.) -> This is an awkward use. You would simply say 我放弃学钢琴了 (Wǒ fàngqì xué gāngqín le). * **Always Negative:** This idiom is a criticism. Never use it to describe a brave or defiant act in a positive light. It always implies a flawed, weak, and irresponsible response to adversity. * **"False Friend" vs. "In for a penny, in for a pound":** The English idiom "in for a penny, in for a pound" (or "might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb") suggests escalating a transgression because you're already guilty. While similar, its focus is on the *consequences* of a bad act. `破罐子破摔` is broader and more focused on the internal, psychological state of *hopelessness* about a flawed self or situation, which then leads to self-destructive behavior. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * **[[自暴自弃]] (zì bào zì qì):** To abandon oneself to despair; to give up on oneself. A more formal, literary synonym that captures the same core meaning. * **[[摆烂]] (bǎi làn):** "To let it rot." A very popular, modern internet slang term with a similar meaning. It describes a passive-aggressive form of giving up where one decides to stop trying and just let things get bad. It's the 21st-century slang version of `破罐子破摔`. * **[[放弃]] (fàngqì):** To give up; to abandon. This is a neutral term for ceasing effort and lacks the negative, self-destructive connotation. * **[[坚持]] (jiānchí):** To persevere; to insist on. This is the direct antonym, representing the culturally valued trait of resilience in the face of hardship. * **[[听天由命]] (tīng tiān yóu mìng):** To resign oneself to fate; "let heaven decide." This describes a passive acceptance of one's situation, whereas `破罐子破摔` is an active and defiant reaction. * **[[一不做，二不休]] (yī bù zuò, èr bù xiū):** "Once you start something, don't stop halfway"; "in for a penny, in for a pound." This is about seeing a difficult (and often transgressive) act through to the end with determination, which is a different motivation from the despair of `破罐子破摔`.