沦为

淪為

lúnwéi

verb #20,128

Meanings

1 to be reduced to
2 to sink to (a lowly status)
3 to degenerate into

Characters

to sink / to fall (morally or socially)

Examples

这座曾经繁华的城市沦为了废墟。

Zhè zuò céngjīng fánhuá de chéngshì lúnwéi le fèixū.

This once-thriving city was reduced to ruins.

他因为赌博而沦为穷人。

Tā yīnwèi dǔbó ér lúnwéi qióngrén.

He sank into poverty because of gambling.

不要让自己的理想沦为空谈。

Búyào ràng zìjǐ de lǐxiǎng lúnwéi kōngtán.

Don't let your ideals be reduced to empty talk.

Tips

usage

沦为 always implies a downward change in status — from good to bad, from high to low. It carries a negative, lamenting tone and is not used for neutral transitions.

Stroke Order

沦 lún

为 wéi