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变本加厉 (biàn běn jiā lì) — to get worse, to intensify (used for negative situations or behaviors)

Definition

A chengyu for bad behavior or conditions that become much worse after already being bad — 'worsen and intensify', never used for positive change.

idiom
to get worseto intensify (used for negative situations or behaviors)

Examples

  • ，变本加厉。
    Tā bú dàn bù gǎi zhèng cuò wù, fǎn ér biàn běn jiā lì.
    Not only did he not correct his mistake, but he even intensified it.
  • 变本加厉，。
    Zuì jìn gōng sī de guǎn lǐ wèn tí biàn běn jiā lì, bì xū jǐn kuài jiě jué.
    The company's management problems have recently worsened and must be resolved as soon as possible.
  • ，变本加厉。
    Rú guǒ bù cǎi qǔ yǒu xiào cuò shī, yì qíng kě néng huì biàn běn jiā lì.
    If effective measures are not taken, the epidemic may intensify further.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

变本change the basis
变biànchange本běnbasis
动宾Verb + object
加厉add severity
加jiāincrease厉lìseverity
动宾Verb + object

The characters 变, 本, 加, and 厉 mean change, basis, increase, and severity, giving the sense of becoming worse than before.

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 變; 变 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
攴攴pū
Sound part声符shēngfú
䜌
䜌䜌變biàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 變 uses 䜌 as a sound part and 攴 as a meaning part.

Open 变 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

本 adds a stroke at the bottom of a tree shape to mark the roots, giving the sense of foundation or original.

Open 本 →

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

加 pairs 力 and 口. In one explanation 力 is strength and 口 is the mouth, meaning exaggeration; in another 力 is plowing effort and 口 is breath or exclamation, meaning extra effort.

Open 加 →

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 厲; 厉 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
厂厂chǎng
Sound part声符shēngfú
蠆
蠆chài厲lì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 厲 uses 厂 for meaning and 蠆 for sound; 厉 is not the form whose parts are being described.

Open 厉 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set Phrases

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