biến chất
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.
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.
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.)
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.)
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).
- 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).
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.)
- To degenerate
- rượu đã biến chấtthe alcohol has degenerated
- Degenerate
- phần tử thoái hoá và biến chấtthe retrograde and degenerate elements