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激化 (jī huà) — to intensify, to become more acute

Definition

激化 (jīhuà) means a conflict or contradiction grows sharper and more severe — used for tensions, disputes, or contradictions escalating. It is sharper than 加剧, which describes any worsening (e.g. weather, pain); 激化 is reserved for opposing sides.

verb
to intensifyto become more acute

Examples

  • 激化。
    Dì qū chōng tū yǒu jī huà de qū shì.
    The regional conflict shows signs of intensifying.
  • 激化。
    Tā men de máo dùn jìn yí bù jī huà.
    Their conflict intensified further.
  • 激化。
    Miàn shì zhōng de jìng zhēng yuè lái yuè jī huà.
    The competition in the interview is becoming more intense.

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.

激jīstimulate
化huàbecome

The sense of 激, stimulate, is extended by 化 to mean becoming more acute.

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
敫
敫jiǎo激jī
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 激, the 氵 side marks water, and 敫 gives the sound jiǎo; the original sense is water swashing.

Open 激 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Change & Process

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