发酵

發酵

fājiào

verb HSK 7 #24,985

Meanings

1 to ferment
2 to escalate; to snowball (of events, controversy)

Characters

to produce; to generate

yeast; fermentation

Literally 'to produce fermentation.' The character 酵 contains 酉 (wine vessel), linking it to ancient brewing.

Examples

面团需要发酵两个小时。

Miàntuán xūyào fājiào liǎng ge xiǎoshí.

The dough needs to ferment for two hours.

这件事在网上持续发酵。

Zhè jiàn shì zài wǎngshàng chíxù fājiào.

This matter keeps escalating online.

Tips

usage

The figurative use of 发酵 for controversies 'brewing' and 'escalating' on social media is extremely common in Chinese news. 持续发酵 (chíxù fājiào, 'continuing to ferment') is the standard phrase for a scandal that keeps getting worse.

Stroke Order

发 fā

酵 jiào