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沦为 (lún wéi) — to be reduced to (a worse state), to degenerate into

Definition

A formal written verb meaning to fall into or be reduced to a bad, lower state — stronger and more literary than everyday alternatives like 变成. Always implies a downward change in status.

verb
to be reduced to (a worse state)to degenerate into

Examples

  • ，沦为。
    Tā tóu zī shī bài hòu, lún wéi le yì míng qǐ gài.
    After failing in his investments, he was reduced to being a beggar.
  • 沦为。
    Zhè ge guó jiā zài zhàn zhēng zhōng lún wéi le zhí mín dì.
    This country was reduced to a colony during the war.
  • ，沦为。
    Yóu yú chǒu wén, tā lún wéi le gōng zhòng de xiào bǐng.
    Because of the scandal, he was reduced to a public laughingstock.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

沦lúnsink
为wèibecome

沦 suggests sinking, and 为 suggests becoming, giving the sense of being reduced to.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 淪; 沦 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
侖
侖lún淪lún
Same sound today

The traditional form 淪 has 水 for water and 侖 for the sound lún; the simplified 沦 is a shorthand.

Open 沦 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 為; 为 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 為 showed a hand holding an elephant; the simplified 为 is a later shorthand.

Open 为 →
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