Definition

1. Verb:

   • To degenerate, to deteriorate, to become corrupted: Refers to a change in the inherent, original quality or nature of a substance, material, or person, typically for the worse. It implies a loss of purity, integrity, or original positive state.
   • To become adulterated, to become denatured: Specifically used for substances (like food, drink, chemicals) that have been altered, often by adding other elements, so they are no longer in their pure, original, or intended state.

2. Adjective:

   • Degenerate, corrupted, adulterated, denatured: Describes a substance, material, or person that has undergone such negative change or corruption. It indicates a state of having lost original good qualities.

Usage Examples

• Verb:

  • Rượu để lâu đã biến chất. (The wine, left for a long time, has degenerated / has gone bad.)
  • Một số cán bộ có thể biến chất khi có quyền lực. (Some cadres can become corrupted / degenerate when they gain power.)
  • Thuốc này đã biến chất do bảo quản không đúng cách. (This medicine has become adulterated / has deteriorated due to improper storage.)

• Adjective:

  • Phải loại bỏ những phần tử biến chất ra khỏi tổ chức. (We must eliminate degenerate / corrupted elements from the organization.)
  • Đây là loại rượu biến chất, không thể uống được. (This is adulterated / denatured alcohol, it's undrinkable.)

Advanced Usage

• In political/social context: Often used to describe individuals, especially officials or party members, who have morally or ideologically deteriorated, betraying original principles.

  • Ông ta từng là một nhà cách mạng nhưng sau này đã biến chất. (He was once a revolutionary but later became corrupted.)

• In geology (as a specialized term): While the primary everyday meaning is above, in geology, "đá biến chất" translates to "metamorphic rock" (rock changed by heat/pressure). This is a distinct, technical usage.

  • Đá hoa cương là một loại đá biến chất. (Granite is a type of metamorphic rock.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sự biến chất (Noun): Degeneration, deterioration, corruption.

  • Sự biến chất của một số quan chức là điều đáng lo ngại. (The degeneration / corruption of some officials is a concern.)

• Biến tính (Verb/Adj): Often used in scientific contexts for a change in properties (e.g., of metal), but not necessarily negative. "Biến chất" carries a stronger negative connotation.

• Thoái hoá (Verb/Adj): To degenerate, to retrograde. Often used similarly to "biến chất," especially for moral/ideological decline. Can be used in combination: thoái hoá và biến chất (retrograde and degenerate).

Synonyms

• Verb: Thoái hoá (to degenerate), hư hỏng (to spoil, to become bad), đồi bại (to become depraved - stronger).
• Adjective: Hư hỏng (spoiled, corrupt), đồi bại (depraved), sa đoạ (degenerate, decadent).

Related Phrases/Idioms

• Biến chất, biến dạng: A phrase meaning "to degenerate and become deformed," emphasizing a complete negative transformation in both nature and form.

  • Dưới ảnh hưởng xấu, anh ta dần biến chất, biến dạng. (Under bad influences, he gradually degenerated and became deformed.)

• Làm biến chất (causative verb phrase): To cause something to degenerate, to adulterate.

  • Họ đã làm biến chất loại rượu quý này bằng cồn. (They adulterated this precious liquor with alcohol.)

verb

1. To degenerate
   • rượu đã biến chất
     the alcohol has degenerated

adj

1. Degenerate
   • phần tử thoái hoá và biến chất
     the retrograde and degenerate elements