‘弄坏’ (nòng huài) is a verb meaning 'to break (something) by accident' or 'to damage unintentionally.' It combines the verb 弄 (nòng), which means 'to handle,' 'to fiddle with,' or 'to mess with,' and the adjective 坏 (huài), meaning 'broken,' 'damaged,' or 'spoiled.' Together, they form a compound verb emphasizing accidental or careless causation — not deliberate destruction. The focus is on the unintended result of one’s actions, often implying mild regret or responsibility.

This word is commonly used in everyday spoken Chinese when describing mishaps involving objects like electronics, furniture, tools, or household items. It carries a neutral-to-slightly-apologetic tone and is rarely used for living beings or abstract concepts. Unlike formal synonyms like 损坏 (sǔnhuài), 弄坏 is colloquial and frequently appears in informal conversations, especially among family members or friends reporting small accidents.