`糟糕` is a fascinating word because it's a very direct and emotional expression of negativity in a culture that often values indirectness and subtlety (`委婉 wěiwǎn`). Its widespread use and acceptance show that there's always room for a clear, immediate reaction to misfortune. In Western culture, we have a spectrum of exclamations for bad situations, ranging from the mild “Oops” or “Oh, dear” to the stronger “Darn it!”, “This is a disaster,” or more profane options. `糟糕` occupies a similar, broad space. It can be a lighthearted “Whoops!” when you spill coffee or a more serious “This is terrible” when your company loses a major client. The key cultural takeaway is that `糟糕` is a universally understood, gut-level response to things going wrong. It's less about assigning blame and more about acknowledging the unfortunate state of affairs. It's a shared expression of frustration that is both personal and relatable.
`糟糕` is extremely common in everyday spoken Chinese and informal writing.