# 土崩瓦解

tǔ bēng wǎ jiě

Collapse or disintegrate completely

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Earth crumbles and tiles break apart

**Register:** Dramatic · formal

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

## When to use it

Describe a structure or system falling apart.

Stronger than a minor setback.

## Understanding the expression

Earth gives way and roof tiles fall apart, so the image removes both support and covering. Modern use describes an organization, alliance, plan, or belief losing its coherence completely. The collapse can happen quickly after a key weakness is exposed. It is stronger than a delay or local failure. The phrase focuses on the whole falling apart, even if some parts remain available to rebuild into something different later.

## Examples

联盟很快土崩瓦解。

### Traditional Chinese

聯盟很快土崩瓦解。

lián méng hěn kuài tǔ bēng wǎ jiě 。

The alliance quickly fell apart.

关键证据让他的说法土崩瓦解。

### Traditional Chinese

關鍵證據讓他的說法土崩瓦解。

guān jiàn zhèng jù ràng tā de shuō fǎ tǔ bēng wǎ jiě 。

The key evidence demolished his account.

资金断裂后，计划土崩瓦解。

### Traditional Chinese

資金斷裂後，計劃土崩瓦解。

zī jīn duàn liè hòu ， jì huà tǔ bēng wǎ jiě 。

The plan collapsed when funding stopped.

团队失去信任，合作土崩瓦解。

### Traditional Chinese

團隊失去信任，合作土崩瓦解。

tuán duì shī qù xìn rèn ， hé zuò tǔ bēng wǎ jiě 。

With trust lost, the team's cooperation disintegrated.

## 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%9C%9F%E5%B4%A9%E7%93%A6%E8%A7%A3)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=172&webMd=1&la=0)

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