愈演愈烈

yù yǎn yù liè

HSK 3.0 Level 7 Rare

Definitions

1. ever more critical
2. problems get more and more intense

Word relationships

Related words

1 item

• 加剧 jiā jù 加剧 jiā jù to intensify to intensify or aggravate, often used with problems: to intensify

Synonyms

1 item

• 变本加厉 biàn běn jiā lì 变本加厉 biàn běn jiā lì lit. change to more severe (idiom); to become more intense (esp. of shortcoming) to describe a situation getting worse or more intense: lit. change to more severe (idiom); to become more intense (esp. of shortcoming)

Usage notes

Collocations

Usually used with negative situations like conflict, crisis, or competition; not for positive developments.

Common mistakes

Not used with countable nouns; 愈演愈烈 describes a process, not individual items.

Example Sentences

1 shown

两国的冲突 愈演愈烈 。

The conflict between the two countries became ever more intense.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Child Words of 愈演愈烈

• 愈 愈 yù: the more...(the more...)
• 演 演 yǎn: to develop
• 烈 烈 liè: ardent