p8nda
p8nda BETA
Home Dictionary Translate Flashcards

破防

pòfáng
verb

Meanings

  1. 1 to be emotionally overwhelmed
  2. 2 to have one's defenses broken
  3. 3 to be deeply moved or hurt

Characters

破
pò
to break; to shatter
防
fáng
defense; to defend
Literally 'break defense' - having your emotional armor pierced

Examples

HSK 4
看到这个视频我直接破防了。
Kàndào zhège shìpín wǒ zhíjiē pòfáng le.
I was emotionally destroyed when I saw this video.
HSK 4
这部电影太感人了，全场破防。
Zhèbù diànyǐng tài gǎnrén le, quánchǎng pòfáng.
This movie was so touching that the whole audience was in tears.
HSK 7-9
他一句话就让我破防了。
Tā yíjùhuà jiù ràngwǒ pòfáng le.
Just one sentence from him broke through my defenses.

Tips

culture
破防 comes from gaming (breaking through an enemy's armor/defense). It went mainstream around 2021 to describe having your emotional walls broken - being moved to tears, deeply hurt, or emotionally shaken by something unexpected.
usage
Can describe both positive emotions (being moved to tears by something beautiful) and negative ones (being emotionally devastated). Context determines the tone.

Stroke Order

破 pò
防 fáng