变质

• Pinyin: biàn zhì
• Desglose de hanzi: 变 = 亦 (also) + 攵 (strike); 质 = 斦 (two axes) + 贝 (shell/value)

Significado

estropearse; echarse a perder; corromperse

Literally means a change in quality, usually for the worse. Used for food spoiling, materials degrading, or metaphorically for people becoming corrupt or relationships souring. Implies an irreversible negative transformation.

Ejemplos

1. 天气太热，牛奶放在外面半天就变质了。
2. 有些官员当了几年就变质了，把初心忘得干干净净。
3. 这种材料在高温下容易变质，要注意储存条件。

Guía de uso

Contexto: food safety, critique, storage

Tono: warning

Correcto

• 食物变质了就别吃了。(Don't eat food that's gone bad.)
• 他的思想已经变质了。(His thinking has become corrupted.)

Incorrecto

• 用变质形容正常变化 (Don't use 变质 for neutral changes — it implies negative deterioration)

Origen e historia

变 (change) + 质 (quality/essence). Quality changes for the worse.

Contexto cultural

Generación: All ages

Contexto social: Universal