My Buzzword Woes：破防

 This term is usually seen in the comments of images or videos that evoke strong emotions, especially crying.

堤防 Levee

In Traditional Chinese, the word "堤防" means a wall made of soil or other materials built next to a river to prevent overflow. 

堤防潰堤(The levee broke). In casual speech, people can say “堤防破了”.

When I first encountered the term "破防," I actually thought it meant a river levee had burst, but it turned out to be a mental levee!

"破防"is now primarily used to mean that one's psychological defense has been breached or broken through. 

This means that a person is experiencing a huge emotional shock, their heart has been deeply touched, and they can no longer remain calm or indifferent.

It is often used when a person is:

• Overwhelmed or devastated: Used when someone is unable to bear negative comments, criticism, mockery, or words that hit a sore spot.
• Deeply Moved: It can also be used positively to express profound feeling or being moved to tears (as is common on crying-related posts).