烂
摊
子

About

The word "烂摊子" is formed by combining the character 烂, meaning "rotten" or "messy", with 摊, which here denotes a "spread-out situation" or "affair", and adding the suffix 子 to nominalize it into a term that literally means "a rotten spread" but idiomatically refers to a disastrous or chaotic mess.

Example Sentences Hide

这个烂摊子很难收拾。

Zhège làntānzi hěn nán shōushi.

This mess is very difficult to clean up.

他留下了一个烂摊子给我。

Tā liúxiàle yīgè làntānzi gěi wǒ.

He left a mess for me.

公司现在的烂摊子都是前任经理造成的。

Gōngsī xiànzài de làntānzi dōu shì qiánrèn jīnglǐ zàochéng de.

The company's current mess was all caused by the former manager.

面对这个烂摊子，我们必须齐心协力才能解决。

Miànduì zhège làntānzi, wǒmen bìxū qíxīn-xiélì cáinéng jiějué.

Facing this mess, we must work together to solve it.

尽管政府试图整顿，但那个历史遗留的烂摊子依然困扰着当地经济。

Jǐnguǎn zhèngfǔ shìtú zhěngdùn, dàn nàgè lìshǐ yíliú de làntānzi yīrán kùnrǎo zhe dāngdì jīngjì.

Although the government attempts to reorganize, that historically leftover mess still troubles the local economy.

Word Definition - 烂摊子

làn tān zi terrible mess; shambles

Individual Character Details

烂 làn
摊 tān
子 zǐ, zi