# 冰消瓦解

bīng xiāo wǎ jiě

Dissolve or disintegrate completely

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Ice melts and tiles break apart

**Register:** Descriptive · literary

[Change & possibility](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/change)

## When to use it

Describe tensions, barriers, or organizations losing their cohesion.

It often marks disappearance rather than a small improvement.

## Understanding the expression

Ice loses its solid form as it melts, while a broken tiled structure no longer holds together. The combined image describes something that stops resisting or maintaining cohesion. Misunderstanding may dissolve after an explanation; an alliance may disintegrate after internal conflict. The result can be welcome or harmful. The phrase emphasizes substantial dissolution, so a slight reduction in tension or a temporary pause should be described more modestly.

## Examples

坦诚沟通后，误会冰消瓦解。

### Traditional Chinese

坦誠溝通後，誤會冰消瓦解。

tǎn chéng gōu tōng hòu ， wù huì bīng xiāo wǎ jiě 。

Honest communication dissolved the misunderstanding.

证据公开，谣言随之冰消瓦解。

### Traditional Chinese

證據公開，謠言隨之冰消瓦解。

zhèng jù gōng kāi ， yáo yán suí zhī bīng xiāo wǎ jiě 。

The published evidence caused the rumor to collapse.

资金中断，联盟很快冰消瓦解。

### Traditional Chinese

資金中斷，聯盟很快冰消瓦解。

zī jīn zhōng duàn ， lián méng hěn kuài bīng xiāo wǎ jiě 。

The alliance quickly disintegrated when funding stopped.

一声道歉让两人的隔阂冰消瓦解。

### Traditional Chinese

一聲道歉讓兩人的隔閡冰消瓦解。

yì shēng dào qiàn ràng liǎng rén de gé hé bīng xiāo wǎ jiě 。

An apology dissolved the barrier between them.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E5%86%B0%E6%B6%88%E7%93%A6%E8%A7%A3)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=455&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [拨乱反正 bō luàn fǎn zhèng Restore order or correct a disordered situation ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/bo-luan-fan-zheng)

- [不胫而走 bù jìng ér zǒu Spread rapidly without deliberate transport ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/bu-jing-er-zou)

- [不可救药 bù kě jiù yào Seem beyond remedy or correction ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/bu-ke-jiu-yao)

- [不翼而飞 bù yì ér fēi Disappear mysteriously or spread rapidly ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/bu-yi-er-fei)

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