砸牌子

zápáizi

idiom

Meanings

1 to ruin one's reputation; to trash a brand's good name

Characters

Examples

HSK 7-9

这样卖假货，迟早会砸了老字号的牌子。

Zhèyàng mài jiǎhuò, chízǎo huì zá le lǎozìhào de páizi.

Selling fakes like this will sooner or later ruin the old brand's good name.

HSK 7-9

做医生千万不能砸自己的牌子。

Zuò yīshēng qiānwàn bùnéng zá zìjǐ de páizi.

As a doctor, you absolutely cannot ruin your own reputation.

Tips

memory

牌子 originally meant the wooden signboard hung outside a shop. Smashing the signboard means destroying the name the business is known by. The image still works for personal reputations today.

Stroke Order

砸 zá

牌 pái

子 zǐ