Chinese word

激化

Pronunciation

Pinyinjī huà

Meaning

  • verbescalate

Example

事态可能会因误解而激化。shì tài kě néng huì yīn wù jiě ér jī huà

The situation may escalate because of a misunderstanding.

Illustration for 激化 (escalate)

More examples

工资差距扩大可能使社会矛盾逐步激化。gōng zī chā jù kuò dà kě néng shǐ shè huì máo dùn zhú bù jī huà

Widening wage gaps may gradually intensify social tensions.

Core concept

A contained problem gains force until it becomes harder to control.

Common phrases

  • 激化对立jī huà duì lì

    intensify opposition

  • 激化矛盾jī huà máo dùn

    intensify tensions

  • 激化冲突jī huà chōng tū

    intensify conflict

Similar words

加剧jiā jù: Make tension, disagreement, or another problem stronger while spreading its effects.
恶化è huà: Become worse as a problem or situation moves in a harmful direction.
升级shēng jí: Move a conflict or standoff to a more serious stage, increasing its scale or impact.
加深jiā shēn: Become deeper or stronger in a relationship, impression, or feeling.

Definition in Chinese

事态或矛盾变得更激烈、更严重。shì tài huò máo dùn biàn de gèng jī liè gèng yán zhòng

Word origin

激化 (jīhuà, "to intensify") combines 激 (jī, "forceful") with 化 (huà, "to change"), framing a situation as becoming more intense.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Chinese, this verb usually takes a situation, dispute, or tension as its focus, rather than a simple rise in heat, sound, or quantity.

Other meanings

  • worsenverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word