verb HSK 5
Traditional 變質
to go bad · to spoil · to deteriorate · to degenerate
Meaning
变质 literally means 'to change quality' and describes when something undergoes a negative transformation. It's most commonly used for food that has spoiled or gone rotten, but can also describe the deterioration of materials, the corruption of ideas or organizations, or moral degeneration.
Usage
This word is used in everyday contexts when discussing food safety (牛奶变质了 'the milk has gone bad') and in more formal or political discourse to describe ideological corruption or organizational decay. It carries a distinctly negative connotation, implying degradation from an original good state.
Examples
- 01这些肉在冰箱外面放太久了，已经变质了。, .This meat has been left outside the refrigerator too long and has already spoiled.
- 02为了防止食品变质，请将它们储存在阴凉干燥的地方。, .To prevent food from spoiling, please store them in a cool, dry place.
Characters
Common collocations
- 食物变质food has spoiled
- 牛奶变质milk has gone bad
- 思想变质ideological degeneration
- 防止变质to prevent spoilage
Antonyms
Origin
Compound word combining 变 (change) and 质 (quality/nature), literally meaning a change in the essential nature or quality of something.