毒化 (dú huā) — to poison (literally, e.g. with a toxic substance); to spoil, to corrupt (figuratively, e.g. atmosphere, relationship, mind)

Definition

Used almost entirely in the figurative sense at HSK 7 — to 'poison' an atmosphere, relationship, or mindset (社会风气, 心灵). The literal sense ('poison with a toxic substance') is rare in modern usage.

verb
to poison (literally, e.g. with a toxic substance)to spoilto corrupt (figuratively, e.g. atmosphere, relationship, mind)

Examples

  • 毒化。
    Zhè zhǒng huà xué wù zhì huì dú huā kōng qì.
    This chemical substance will poison the air.
  • 毒化。
    Yáo yán bú duàn dú huā zhe shè huì fēng qì.
    Rumors are constantly corrupting the social atmosphere.
  • 毒化。
    Wǎng luò bào lì yán zhòng dú huā le qīng shào nián de xīn líng.
    Online violence has severely poisoned the minds of young people.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

毒dúpoison
化huàturn into

"毒" poison and "化" turn into combine to mean make poisonous or spoil.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
屮屮chèvegetation
Sound part声符shēngfú
毐
毐ǎi毒dú
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

毒 pairs 屮, a plant part, with 毐 as a sound part; this form was used for a poisonous plant.

Open 毒 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

化 shows two person figures, one upright and one upside down, to give the idea of reversal or change.

Open 化 →

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