Definition

Verb: - To degenerate; to deteriorate (morally or in quality): Refers to the process of declining from a higher or original state to a lower, worse, or corrupt state, especially in terms of character, ethics, or quality. - To become depraved; to become corrupt: Describes a person, especially a cadre or official, who has lost their original good qualities, principles, or integrity.

Usage Examples

• (Some cadres have degenerated, becoming corrupt and alienated from the people.)
• (Their product quality is gradually deteriorating because they only chase profit.)
• (He used to be a good person, but a depraved life has caused him to become corrupt.)

Advanced Usage Notes

• Formality and Connotation: This is a formal, literary, and strong word with a distinctly negative connotation. It is often used in political, social, or moral criticism. It implies a fall from a previously held standard or virtue.
• Typical Contexts: Commonly used to describe:
  • The moral decay of individuals in positions of power or responsibility (e.g., officials, cadres).
  • The decline in the essential quality or nature of something.
• Grammar: Functions as an intransitive verb. It describes the subject's own change of state.

Variants and Related Words

• Thoái hóa (verb): To degenerate, to degrade. A more common synonym in modern Vietnamese, often used in both moral and biological/medical contexts (e.g., - moral degeneration, - joint degeneration).
• Suy đồi (verb): To become depraved, decadent. Strongly emphasizes moral corruption and a dissolute lifestyle.
• Sa đọa (verb): To become debauched, to sink into depravity. Focuses on moral decline through vice and indulgence.
• Xuống cấp (verb): To decline, to deteriorate (in quality, condition). A more general term, less severe and moralistic than , often used for infrastructure, services, or standards.

Synonyms

• Degenerate
• Deteriorate
• Become corrupt
• Become depraved

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Biến chất": Literally "to change substance/nature". A closely related and more commonly used phrase with a very similar meaning: to degenerate, to become corrupted in essence. While is rarer and more literary, is prevalent in contemporary political and social discourse.
  • Một bộ phận cán bộ đã biến chất. (A portion of cadres have become degenerate.)