蜕化

蛻化

tuìhuà

verb

Meanings

1 to undergo metamorphosis (of insects)
2 to slough / molt
3 (figurative) to degenerate / be corrupted
4 to be transformed

Characters

to molt / shed skin

to transform / change

Examples

蝉从幼虫蜕化成成虫。

Chán cóng yòuchóng tuìhuà chéng chéngchóng.

Cicadas metamorphose from larvae into adults.

他从一名干部蜕化成腐败分子。

Tā cóng yī míng gànbù tuìhuà chéng fǔbài fènzǐ.

He degenerated from a cadre into a corrupt official.

这个组织已经蜕化变质。

Zhège zǔzhī yǐjīng tuìhuà biànzhì.

This organization has degenerated and changed in nature.

Tips

usage

Two flavors. Literal: insects/snakes shedding skin. Figurative: a person or organization 'sheds' its good qualities and becomes corrupt — almost always negative. The fixed phrase 蜕化变质 (tuìhuà biànzhì, 'degenerate and change in nature') is standard CCP/political vocabulary for cadres going bad.

mistakes

Don't confuse with 退化 (tuìhuà, same pinyin) — 退化 means 'regress / atrophy' (a function or organ becomes worse over time), 蜕化 means 'shed and transform' (literal molt or figurative moral decay).

Stroke Order

蜕 tuì

化 huà