退化

tuìhuà

verb HSK 7-9 #13,330

Meanings

1 to degenerate
2 to deteriorate
3 atrophy

Characters

to retreat; to go back

to transform; -ification

Examples

HSK 5

长期不运动，肌肉会退化。

Chángqī bù yùndòng, jīròu huì tuìhuà.

If you don't exercise for a long time, your muscles will atrophy.

HSK 7-9

这个物种的眼睛已经退化了。

Zhège wùzhǒng de yǎnjing yǐjīng tuìhuà le.

This species' eyes have already degenerated.

Tips

memory

退 (to retreat/go back) + 化 (to transform) = to transform backward, i.e. to degenerate or deteriorate.

Stroke Order

退 tuì

化 huà