垮
kuǎ · HSK 7
to collapse
🏚️ 土 earth + 夸 (kuā, boast) → ground that brags too much gives way and collapses
The 土 earth radical carries the meaning of collapsing ground, while 夸 kuā supplies the sound, nudged to kuǎ. Think of a structure breaking down or being worn out until it caves.
垮 — hand radical 扌 + 夸 (to boast)
A semantic-phonetic compound. The hand radical 扌 suggests action or physical effect, while 夸 (kuā) supplies the sound. Originally tied to ideas of collapsing or giving way under strain, 垮 came to mean 'to collapse' or 'fall apart,' as when a structure or plan breaks down.