What does “烂泥扶不上墙” mean in English?
This means someone is hopeless and can't be improved, no matter the help they receive. The literal translation refers to rotten mud that can't support a wall, emphasizing the futility of the situation.
Literally “rotten mud cannot be put on a wall”
It's used as a direct insult, similar to calling someone a lost cause. While not obscene, it carries a biting tone and is used in a figurative sense.
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Related Chinese words
下三烂
3/5 · Vulgarxià sānlàn
This is an insult aimed at someone or something considered low and contemptible. It's used to express disdain or contempt.
废物
3/5 · Vulgarfèiwù
It’s an insult that calls someone useless or worthless. The literal translation refers to waste material, but in this context, it’s about a person's value.
混球
3/5 · Vulgarhúnqiú
It's an insult used to call someone a scoundrel or jerk. The literal translation, 'muddled ball,' adds a quirky touch but doesn't change the intent.
混蛋
3/5 · Vulgarhún dàn
It's an insult used to call someone a bastard or jerk. It's a direct way to express disdain for someone's actions or character.
About this data
Swear Atlas is a source-attested, AI-curated reference — not a native-speaker-certified dictionary. Meanings and the 1–5 Burn Rating are approximate editorial assessments that vary with context, region, tone and speaker. Inclusion of a word does not constitute endorsement of its use.
The literal gloss is a short editorial translation to show word-for-word sense, not an etymological claim.
“Sounds like” is an English-friendly approximation of how the word sounds, not an authoritative pronunciation. Where shown, the romanisation is a conventional Latin-script transliteration of the original spelling.
Term attested via 4troDev/profanity.csv (MIT). Editorial content © Swear Atlas.