Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Broken / Out of order: Describes an object, machine, or device that is damaged, defective, or no longer functions correctly.
   • Spoiled / Ruined: Describes something that has deteriorated in quality or condition, such as spoiled food or a ruined plan.
   • Corrupted / Depraved: Describes a person whose moral character is considered bad or corrupt (often used for children).

2. Verb:

   • To fail / To flunk: To be unsuccessful in an examination or test.
   • To fail / To go wrong: To not achieve a desired goal or outcome; for a plan or affair to be unsuccessful.
   • To break / To damage: To cause something to become broken or spoiled.

3. Interjection:

   • Expressing disappointment: An exclamation used to express frustration, disappointment, or the realization that something has gone wrong.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • Cái máy tính này hỏng rồi. (This computer is broken.)
  • Sữa đã hỏng. (The milk has spoiled.)
  • Đứa trẻ đó thật sự hỏng rồi. (That child is truly corrupted.)

• Verb:

  • Nó hỏng kỳ thi. (He failed the exam.)
  • Kế hoạch của chúng tôi hỏng. (Our plan failed.)
  • Đừng hỏng chiếc đồng hồ mới. (Don't break the new watch.)

• Interjection:

  • Hỏng! Tôi quên chìa khóa rồi! (Oh no! I forgot the keys!)

Advanced Usage

• "hỏng việc": to fail in a task or affair; to mess up a job.

  • Anh ta hỏng việc vì thiếu kinh nghiệm. (He messed up the job due to lack of experience.)

• "hỏng hóc": (often used for machinery) to have a breakdown, to be faulty.

  • Xe ô tô bắt đầu hỏng hóc. (The car started to break down.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hư hỏng (adj): damaged, defective, corrupted. Often used interchangeably with "hỏng" but can sound slightly more formal.

  • Hàng hóa bị hư hỏng trong quá trình vận chuyển. (The goods were damaged during transport.)

• Làm hỏng (v): to break, to ruin, to spoil.

  • Cô ấy vô tình làm hỏng chiếc áo. (She accidentally ruined the shirt.)

Synonyms

• Broken: not functioning.
• Fail: to be unsuccessful.
• Spoil: to become unfit for use.
• Flunk: to fail a test (colloquial).

Related Idioms

• Hỏng ăn: to ruin an opportunity (literally, "to ruin a meal").

  • Sự cố đó hỏng ăn cả buổi họp. (That incident ruined the whole meeting.)

• Hỏng người: to be morally ruined; to become a bad person.

  • Ma túy có thể hỏng người. (Drugs can corrupt a person.)

verb

1. to fail; to miss; to break down; to fail at an examination
   • hỏng việc
     to fail in an affair