Definition

1. Noun:

   • A state of being broken, malfunctioning, or out of order: "hỏng hóc" refers to the condition of a machine, device, or system that has failed to work properly.
   • A fault or breakdown: It can also mean a specific fault or instance of mechanical or technical failure.

2. Adjective (often used in the structure 'bị hỏng hóc'):

   • Broken down, faulty, malfunctioning: Describes an object, typically mechanical or electronic, that is not functioning correctly.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Chiếc xe có nhiều hỏng hóc. (The car has many breakdowns / faults.)
  • Anh ấy sửa chữa mọi hỏng hóc trong nhà. (He fixes all the breakdowns in the house.)

• Adjective (in the 'bị' structure):

  • Máy tính bị hỏng hóc. (The computer is broken down / has malfunctioned.)
  • Động cơ bị hỏng hóc nghiêm trọng. (The engine has a serious breakdown.)

Advanced Usage

• "hỏng hóc liên tục": constant breakdowns, frequent malfunctions.

  • Chiếc máy cũ này hỏng hóc liên tục. (This old machine has constant breakdowns.)

• "sự hỏng hóc": (the) breakdown, (the) failure (a more formal nominalization).

  • Sự hỏng hóc bất ngờ đã làm gián đoạn sản xuất. (The sudden breakdown disrupted production.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hỏng (adj/verb): To be broken/spoiled/to fail. A more general and common term.

  • Cái quạt hỏng rồi. (The fan is broken.)

• Hư hỏng (adj/noun): Damage, defect, spoiled. Often implies physical damage or moral corruption.

  • hư hỏng về mặt cơ khí (mechanical damage)
  • một thanh niên hư hỏng (a spoiled youth)

Synonyms

• Trục trặc (n): Hitch, snag, trouble. Often used for minor or temporary malfunctions.
• Pan (from French "panne") (n): Breakdown (commonly used in the phrase "bị pan").
• Sự cố (n): Incident, failure (can be technical or general).

Related Phrases

• Bị hỏng: To be broken. (The most common phrase.)

  • Cái điều khiển bị hỏng. (The remote control is broken.)

• Sửa chữa hỏng hóc: To repair breakdowns.

  • Thợ máy đang sửa chữa hỏng hóc. (The mechanic is repairing the breakdown.)

Related Idioms

(Note: "hỏng hóc" itself is not typically used in idiomatic expressions. The simpler form "hỏng" is used instead.) - Hỏng việc: To ruin the work/to cause a plan to fail. - Tin này hỏng việc rồi! (This news has ruined everything!)

• Ăn hỏng (in some dialects): To have the engagement ceremony (a completely different meaning from "hỏng hóc").

1. Fail, break down
   • Máy bị hỏng hóc
     The engine has broken down