摆烂
bǎi làn
In English
letting it rot / actively giving up
What does 摆烂 mean?
摆烂 (bǎi làn) is a work Chinese slang term that literally means "set it out to rot". Deliberately letting things go to ruin — when a situation is already hopeless, you stop trying entirely. More nihilistic than 躺平. In English, it's closest to "letting it rot / actively giving up".
Opposite / pairs with
Hear it explained
A 30-second take on 摆烂 — what it means, where it came from, and how to use it.
躺平 is calmly opting out. 摆烂, bǎi làn, is more savage: letting it rot. The situation's already a mess, so you stop trying entirely and let it collapse. 反正改不完了，干脆摆烂吧. It comes from sports teams losing on purpose. Beautifully nihilistic.
Example
反正改不完了，干脆摆烂吧。
Fǎnzhèng gǎi bù wán le, gāncuì bǎi làn ba.
I'll never finish anyway — might as well let it all rot.
What 摆烂 goes with
Where 摆烂 comes from
From NBA "tanking" (摆烂 = losing on purpose for a better draft pick). It broadened to any "it's hopeless, so I quit" attitude.
Related slang
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