Verb / Adj + 坏了 (broken / to an extreme)
"…to the point of breaking"
- Verb / Adj + bad坏(completed / change)了 = literally "broken", or figuratively "to an extreme".
- machine机器bad坏(completed / change)了 = "the machine broke"; to become exhausted累坏(completed / change)了 = "worn out"; 急坏(completed / change)了 = "worried sick".
- The bad坏(completed / change)了 pushes the state to its limit.
Verb / Adj + bad坏(completed / change)了
- bad坏(completed / change)了 marks something broken — or a feeling at breaking point.
I我tired累extremely坏了。
- to become exhausted累坏(completed / change)了 = "(I'm) completely worn out."
Explore
Correct or broken?
V/Adj + 坏了 pushes a state to the extreme: starving, scared stiff, thrilled.
Practice
I'm completely worn out: 我累 ____ 了。
Adj + 坏了 = to an extreme: 累坏了 (worn out).
Practice
机器坏了 uses 坏了 in its literal “broken” sense.
Yes — literal: 机器坏了 (the machine broke).
Recap
Key idea
- Verb / Adj + bad坏(completed / change)了 — "broken" or "to an extreme"
- machine机器bad坏(completed / change)了 (broke) · to become exhausted累坏(completed / change)了 (worn out) · 急坏(completed / change)了 (worried sick)
- bad坏(completed / change)了 pushes the state to its limit
Read the full reference: HSK 5 grammar — Complements.
Practice
急坏了 means…
坏了 pushes the feeling to its limit: 急坏了, 累坏了.