烂尾

爛尾

lànwěi

verb

Meanings

1 to end badly, to fizzle out
2 (of a project, show, or novel) to be abandoned unfinished or have a terrible ending

Characters

Examples

这部剧最后一集烂尾了。

Zhè bù jù zuìhòu yī jí lànwěi le.

The last episode of this show was a total letdown.

楼盘烂尾,业主不敢收房。

Lóupán lànwěi, yèzhǔ bù gǎn shōufáng.

The development was abandoned mid-construction; buyers don't dare take possession.

作者弃坑,小说彻底烂尾。

Zuòzhě qìkēng, xiǎoshuō chèdǐ lànwěi.

The author dropped it; the novel is thoroughly abandoned.

Tips

usage

Two main contexts: (1) unfinished real estate developments, a major social issue in China since 2021, and (2) TV shows / web novels with disappointing endings. Often used as 烂尾工程 or 烂尾楼 as nouns.

culture

烂尾楼 (abandoned construction) triggered the 2022 mortgage-boycott movement where homebuyers refused to pay for unfinished apartments.

Stroke Order

烂 làn

尾 wěi