The word **浑蛋** (húndàn) is a derogatory Chinese term formed through metaphorical compounding: the character **浑** means "muddy," "turbid," or "confused," suggesting impurity or lack of clarity, while **蛋** means "egg." Literally, it reads as "muddy egg," but figuratively it implies a person who is rotten, foolish, or badly behaved at their core—much like an egg that is spoiled or muddled inside. Historically, it evolved as a colloquial insult to denote someone as a "scoundrel" or "jerk," with its pejorative strength deriving from the idea of being fundamentally muddled and worthless. It is often seen in the variant spelling **混蛋**, where **混** carries connotations of "muddling along" or "being confused," reinforcing the sense of a good-for-nothing person.