脱轨 (tuō guǐ) — to derail (literal and figurative)

Definition

脱轨 is a separable verb (离合词) meaning 'to derail' — used literally for trains leaving the tracks and figuratively for plans, careers, or lives going off course. You can separate 脱 and 轨 to insert aspect markers, degree, or measure words: e.g., 脱了轨 ('derailed'), 脱过一次轨 ('derailed once'). The subject (what derails) comes before the compound: 火车脱轨了 ('the train derailed').

v.o.

to derail (literal and figurative)

Examples

脱轨。
Huǒchē tuō guǐ le.
The train derailed.
。
Nà liàng huǒchē tuō guò yí cì guǐ.
That train derailed once.
脱轨。
Tā de shìyè tuō guǐ le.
His career derailed.

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