ruin
/ˈruːɪn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈruːɪn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈrü-ən -ˌin; ˈrün/ (ame, mw) · /ˈruː.ɪn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈruː.ɪn/ (ame, ipa)
ruin — 動詞
- ruinpresent simple I / you / we / they
- ruinshe / she / it
- ruinedpast simple
- ruining-ing form
1. To cause something to become worthless, useless, or no longer enjoyable through
破壞；毀掉
使某事物失去原有價值或品質
To cause something to become worthless, useless, or no longer enjoyable through harm or damage — like heavy rain spoiling a day out, or a cooking mistake making a meal inedible.
A sudden downpour ruined the outdoor wedding ceremony that Esme had spent months planning.
突如其來的一場大雨毀掉了 Esme 籌劃幾個月的戶外婚禮。
ruin + event/occasion: common pattern for spoiling planned events
Min left the pan on the stove too long and completely ruined the pasta sauce.
Min 把鍋子在爐子上放太久，完全毀掉了義大利麵醬汁。
completely ruined: intensifier pattern
The cheap detergent ruined Aaron's favourite woollen jumper by shrinking it to half its size.
那種便宜洗衣精把 Aaron 最喜歡的羊毛衫洗得縮水，整件衣服都毀了。
A single error in the spreadsheet ruined weeks of careful financial planning for the company.
試算表裡的一個錯誤，毀掉了公司數週的精心財務規劃。
Joaquín's holiday was ruined when his passport was stolen on the first day.
Joaquín 在第一天護照就被偷了，整個假期都毀了。
文法句型
ruin + noun (object)
be ruined by + noun
completely/totally ruin + noun
用法筆記
Can be applied to both concrete objects (food, clothes, machinery) and abstract things (plans, events, experiences). The adverb 'completely' or 'totally' often intensifies the verb to emphasise that nothing can be saved.
常見錯誤
2. To strip a person or organisation of their money, social position, or good name
搞垮；敗壞
使個人或公司失去金錢或地位
To strip a person or organisation of their money, social position, or good name so completely that they cannot recover — for instance, a failed investment that drains a family's savings, or a scandal that destroys a public figure's career.
The failed restaurant venture ruined Sahil financially and forced him to sell his house.
餐廳生意失敗讓 Sahil 傾家蕩產，被迫賣掉房子。
financially ruined: common adverb collocation
That one scandalous newspaper article completely ruined the senator's reputation among voters.
那篇報紙醜聞報導徹底摧毀了參議員在選民心目中的聲譽。
ruin + reputation/career: abstract damage pattern
The lawsuit dragged on for years and ended up ruining the small family business.
這場訴訟纏訟多年，最終拖垮了那間小型家族企業。
Christopher was ruined by his gambling addiction — he lost his house, marriage, and job.
Christopher 因為賭癮而一敗塗地——他失去了房子、婚姻和工作。
Thousands of farmers were financially ruined when the drought destroyed three consecutive harvests.
連續三年的乾旱讓成千上萬農民破產。
- bankrupt
Specifically legal/financial; means being declared unable to pay debts.
- impoverish
Formal; means to make very poor without necessarily implying legal bankruptcy.
文法句型
ruin + person/company
be financially ruined
ruin someone's reputation/career
用法筆記
This sense focuses specifically on financial or social consequences. Unlike sense 1 (which can apply to a single ruined meal or outing), this sense implies a lasting, life-changing loss. The passive form 'be ruined' is very common when describing the victim of events.
常見錯誤
ruin — 名詞
- ruinsingular
- ruinsplural
1. The way something becomes worthless or non-functional through destruction or dec
毀滅；敗壞
事物被徹底破壞的過程或狀態
The way something becomes worthless or non-functional through destruction or decay — the point at which its value, quality, or function is completely lost.
The ruin of the old forest began when the logging company moved into the area.
當伐木公司進駐之後，這片美麗的古老森林便走向了毀滅。
the ruin of + noun: common possessive-type pattern
Years of neglect and poor management brought the once-thriving factory to ruin.
多年的疏忽與管理不善，使這間曾經興盛的工廠走向衰敗。
bring [something] to ruin: causative pattern
The ancient irrigation system fell into ruin after the canal that fed it was blocked.
在供應水源的渠道被堵塞之後，古老的灌溉系統逐漸廢棄。
Excessive tourism has led to the ruin of many once-pristine beaches along the coastline.
過度的觀光業導致許多曾經純淨的海灘遭到破壞。
The scandal meant the complete ruin of everything the organisation had built over fifty years.
這樁醜聞使該組織五十年來建立的一切徹底毀於一旦。
- destruction
More general; can be sudden or deliberate, while 'ruin' often implies gradual decay or collapse.
- collapse
Focuses on the act of falling down or failing, often suddenly.
- decay
Emphasises natural, gradual deterioration, often from neglect.
- preservation
The act of keeping something in good condition.
- restoration
The process of returning something to its original good condition.
文法句型
the ruin of [something]
lead to ruin
end in ruin
用法筆記
Usually uncountable. Common in fixed phrases like 'fall into ruin', 'bring to ruin', 'lead to ruin'. These patterns emphasise a gradual process rather than a sudden event. Do not confuse with 'in ruins' (sense 4).
常見錯誤
2. A condition where a person or business has suffered a total loss of wealth, posi
破產；垮台
失去所有金錢或社會地位
A condition where a person or business has suffered a total loss of wealth, position, or honour and cannot recover from it.
Gambling was the ruin of Nia's uncle — he lost every penny saved over thirty years.
賭博毀了 Nia 的叔叔——他失去了三十年來積攢的每一分錢。
[something] was the ruin of [someone]: causative pattern
The company faced complete financial ruin after the lawsuit awarded millions in damages.
在官司被判賠償數百萬元之後，這家公司面臨徹底的財務破產。
face financial ruin: common verb + adjective collocation
Mert watched his business slide toward ruin as each month brought more debt.
Mert 眼睜睜看著自己的生意逐月滑向破產，債務越來越多。
The drought spelled ruin for farming communities across the region who relied on the rains.
乾旱對那些靠雨水維生的農業社區而言，意味著破產倒閉的命運。
A single accounting mistake at the bank led to ruin for dozens of small investors.
銀行的一個會計錯誤導致數十名小投資者破產。
- bankruptcy
A specific legal status of being unable to pay debts; more technical than 'ruin'.
- collapse
Can describe financial failure but also physical or structural failure.
- downfall
Often implies a dramatic fall from a high position, especially of a powerful person.
- prosperity
The state of being successful and having enough money.
- success
Achieving wealth, respect, or desired outcomes.
文法句型
[be] the ruin of [someone/company]
face ruin
financial ruin
用法筆記
Commonly appears in economic and business contexts. 'Financial ruin' is a very frequent collocation. The phrase 'the ruin of [someone/something]' can point to a specific cause of the collapse, not just the state itself.
常見錯誤
3. The broken parts or fragments that remain of a building, city, or other structur
廢墟
建築物或城鎮毀壞後殘留的部分
The broken parts or fragments that remain of a building, city, or other structure after it has been severely damaged or has fallen into decay over time — especially ancient or historic structures.
Sivan and Lauren visited the ruins of a Roman temple while travelling in southern Turkey.
Sivan 和 Lauren 在土耳其南部旅行時，參觀了一座古羅馬神廟的遺址。
the ruins of [place]: most common pattern for historical sites
The old castle has stood in ruins on the hill since wartime bombing.
這座古老的城堡自戰爭期間被轟炸以來，就一直矗立在山頂上成為廢墟。
stand in ruins: state-describing pattern
Archaeologists uncovered the ruins of a medieval village buried beneath centuries of earth and vegetation.
考古學家挖掘出了一座被埋藏在數世紀泥土和植被下的中世紀村莊遺跡。
Only a few stone walls and a crumbling tower remain of the monastery ruins.
這座修道院的廢墟只剩下幾堵石牆和一座搖搖欲墜的塔樓。
The earthquake reduced the entire neighbourhood to a heap of smoking ruins.
地震將整個社區化為一堆冒煙的瓦礫。
- construction
The process of building something new.
- intact structure
A building that is still whole and undamaged.
文法句型
the ruins of [building/city]
[building] lies in ruins
[building] is in ruins
用法筆記
Almost always used in the plural form 'ruins' when referring to physical remains. The singular 'ruin' is rare for this sense and usually appears in fixed expressions like 'a ruin' (meaning a single ruined building). 'In ruins' describes the state of a structure that is badly damaged.
常見錯誤
4. A state of being in an extremely bad, broken, or hopeless condition — used for b
破敗；崩潰
處於極糟或絕望的狀態
A state of being in an extremely bad, broken, or hopeless condition — used for buildings, cities, plans, relationships, or people's lives that have been completely devastated.
After the divorce, her personal life was in ruins and she started over from nothing.
離婚後，她的個人生活一團糟，必須從頭開始。
in ruins: metaphorical use for non-physical things
The earthquake left the entire coastal city in ruins, with thousands of people left homeless.
地震讓整個沿海城市滿目瘡痍，數以千計的人無家可歸。
leave [something] in ruins: causative result pattern
A single rumour about cheating was enough to send the couple's ten-year marriage into ruins.
一個關於出軌的謠言，就足以讓這對伴侶十年的婚姻毀於一旦。
Eleni's dream to become a musician lay in ruins after the accident damaged her hearing.
Eleni 成為音樂家的夢想，在意外損害了她的聽力之後徹底破滅。
The peace talks collapsed and years of diplomatic effort were left in ruins.
和平談判破裂，多年的外交努力付諸東流。
- devastated
Adjective describing the emotional or physical impact; can apply to both people and places.
- destroyed
More final and absolute; suggests nothing can be recovered.
- shattered
Often used for abstract things like hopes, dreams, lives; implies fragmentation.
- flourishing
Growing or developing successfully.
- intact
Whole and undamaged.
文法句型
in ruins
lie in ruins
be in ruins
用法筆記
This sense is best understood as a state, not a thing. It always appears in fixed prepositional phrases like 'in ruins', 'into ruins', 'lay in ruins'. Unlike sense 3, this can apply to non-physical things: relationships, plans, careers, hopes. Do not use 'ruins' as a standalone noun in this sense.