年久失修

niánjiǔ-shīxiū

idiom #44,920

Meanings

这座桥年久失修，非常危险。

Zhè zuò qiáo niánjiǔ-shīxiū, fēicháng wēixiǎn.

The bridge has fallen into disrepair and is very dangerous.

老房子年久失修，墙皮都掉了。

Lǎo fángzi niánjiǔ-shīxiū, qiángpí dōu diào le.

The old house is falling apart — the plaster has come off the walls.

那条公路年久失修，坑坑洼洼。

Nà tiáo gōnglù niánjiǔ-shīxiū, kēngkēng-wāwā.

That highway has been neglected for years — full of potholes.

usage

Applies almost exclusively to physical infrastructure: buildings, bridges, roads, equipment. Not used for people or abstract things.

memory

Four characters in a neat logical chain: 年 (years) + 久 (long) + 失 (lost / missing) + 修 (repair) = 'long without repair'.

年 nián

久 jiǔ

失 shī

修 xiū