V+爛

Break or Tear It

Level 3Sounds Like laan6

Use V + 爛 (laan6) to describe the result of an action that physically breaks, smashes, or shreds an object.

How It Works

The pattern V + 爛 (laan6) is a type of resultative verb compound. The first verb describes the action, and 爛 describes the state of the object after that action.

1. Physical vs. Functional Damage
It is crucial to distinguish between physical damage and functional failure. 爛 is for things you can see are physically destroyed (cracked, torn, smashed). For machines or electronics that simply stop working but look fine, use V + 壞 (waai6) instead.

2. Common Verbs Used

  • Impact: 打 (daa2 - hit), 踢 (tek3 - kick), 撞 (zong6 - crash).
  • Tension: 撕 (si1 - tear), 扯 (ce2 - pull/rip).
  • Attrition: 磨 (mo4 - grind), 咬 (ngaau5 - bite), 踩 (caai2 - step on).

3. Word Order
The object normally comes after the entire verb-complement unit. You cannot place the object between the verb and 爛 unless you are using the potential form (e.g., 打唔爛 - cannot break).

4. Softening/Cooking Contexts
While usually negative, 爛 can be neutral when describing food cooked until it is soft or mushy, such as 煮爛 (zyu2 laan6 - cook until soft) for congee or potatoes.

Examples (5)

  1. 佢唔小心打爛咗個花瓶。

    He accidentally smashed the vase.

    Word by Word: He not careful hit-broken [perfective] [classifier] vase.

    Here, 咗 (zo2) is added after the resultative compound to show the action is completed.

  2. 你唔好撕爛張紙呀！

    Don't tear up the paper!

    Word by Word: You not good tear-broken [classifier] paper [particle]!

    Using 唔好 (m4 hou2) creates a prohibition against the result of tearing the paper.

  3. 對鞋着到爛晒。

    The shoes are completely worn out.

    Word by Word: [Pair] shoes wear until broken completely.

    This uses 到 (dou3) to show the extent of the wearing, and 晒 (saai3) to emphasize it is 'completely' broken.

  4. 啲薯仔要煮爛佢。

    The potatoes need to be cooked until soft.

    Word by Word: [Plural] potato need cook-broken them.

    In a cooking context, 爛 (laan6) implies a mushy or soft texture rather than 'damage'.

  5. 我冇整爛你部電腦。

    I didn't break your computer (physically).

    Word by Word: I not-have make-broken your [classifier] computer.

    整 (zing2) is a general 'do/make' verb. 整爛 implies physical damage like a cracked screen.

Common Mistakes

  • Choosing 爛 (laan6) where plain 壞 (waai6) is meant for a computer that won't start.

    Different Meaning我部電腦爛咗，開唔到機。
    我部電腦壞咗，開唔到機。

    我部電腦爛咗 is natural and says the machine is badly broken. 壞 (waai6) is the plainer word for 'not working', so use it when you do not mean the computer is wrecked.

  • Using 唔 (m4) when you mean 'did not break it' in the past.

    Different Meaning我唔打爛個杯。
    我冇打爛個杯。

    我唔打爛個杯 is a good sentence, but it means 'I won't break the cup' (a promise or refusal). To say you did not break it, use 冇 (mou5): 我冇打爛個杯.

  • Placing the object between the verb and the result.

    佢打個杯爛咗。
    佢打爛咗個杯。

    The resultative complement 爛 must stick directly to the verb. The object follows the entire compound.

How It Connects

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V+爛Level 3Break or Tear It

Learn This First

To understand 'V+爛', you need to be familiar with the concept of resultative verb compounds in Cantonese, where a second word is added to a verb to indicate the outcome of an action. You should also understand how adjectives describe the state of an object.

Words in This Pattern

烂