The Word “Deteriorate”: Meaning, Usage, and Translations Across 30 Languages
The word “deteriorate” describes a process of decline or worsening, often referring to the gradual destruction or degradation of something. It can apply to physical conditions, relationships, situations, and various other aspects of life. Understanding this word helps us discuss when things are getting worse over time, whether it’s an object, a condition, or a person’s health. In this article, we will explore the meaning, usage, and translations of the word deteriorate in 30 different languages.
Meaning of “Deteriorate”
- General Definition:
- Deteriorate means to become progressively worse or to decline in quality, condition, or value over time. It often refers to something that gradually worsens until it reaches a state of disrepair or damage.
- Example: “The building began to deteriorate after years of neglect.”
- Physical Degradation:
- The word can be used to describe physical things that decline in condition, such as equipment, materials, or structures.
- Example: “The paint on the house deteriorated due to exposure to the sun.”
- Health Decline:
- When referring to health, deteriorate describes a person’s condition worsening, often in a gradual manner.
- Example: “His health began to deteriorate after the accident.”
- Emotional or Mental Decline:
- Deteriorate can also be used to describe emotional or psychological states that worsen over time, such as mental health conditions or relationships.
- Example: “Her mental state deteriorated after the stressful event.”
- Moral or Ethical Decline:
- In a broader sense, it can describe the decline of moral, social, or cultural conditions.
- Example: “The community’s sense of unity began to deteriorate after the conflict.”
Common Usages in Context
- Physical Degradation:
- “The old car began to deteriorate after years of exposure to the weather.”
- “If not cared for properly, the wood will deteriorate over time.”
- Health and Well-being:
- “The patient’s condition deteriorated rapidly after the surgery.”
- “Without proper treatment, her eyesight will continue to deteriorate.”
- Mental or Emotional Decline:
- “The stress from work caused his mental health to deteriorate.”
- “The relationship deteriorated because of constant misunderstandings.”
- Cultural or Social Decline:
- “The city’s infrastructure has deteriorated due to lack of funding.”
- “Over time, the moral standards of society have deteriorated.”
Translations of “Deteriorate” in 30 Languages
| Language | Translation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish | Deteriorarse | “El estado del edificio comenzó a deteriorarse debido al abandono.” |
| French | Se détériorer | “L’état de la voiture se détériore avec le temps.” |
| German | Verschlechtern | “Die Qualität des Produkts verschlechterte sich im Laufe der Jahre.” |
| Italian | Deteriorarsi | “La salute del paziente si è deteriorata dopo l’incidente.” |
| Portuguese | Deteriorar | “O estado da estrada deteriorou devido à falta de manutenção.” |
| Dutch | Verslechteren | “De gezondheid van de patiënt verslechterde snel.” |
| Russian | Ухудшаться (Ukhudshat’sya) | “Состояние здания начало ухудшаться из-за времени и погоды.” |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 恶化 (È huà) | “长期的暴露使得设备开始恶化。” |
| Japanese | 悪化する (Akka suru) | “彼の健康状態は事故後に悪化しました。” |
| Korean | 악화되다 (Akhwadoeda) | “그의 건강은 사고 후에 악화되었습니다.” |
| Hindi | बिगड़ना (Bigadna) | “बिमारी के कारण उसकी स्थिति बिगड़ने लगी।” |
| Bengali | অবনতি (Abnati) | “শরীরের অবস্থা ধীরে ধীরে অবনতির দিকে এগিয়ে যাচ্ছে।” |
| Turkish | Kötüleşmek | “Sağlık durumu tedavi edilmezse kötüleşir.” |
| Greek | Επιδεινώνω (Epideinó) | “Η υγεία της γυναίκας επιδεινώθηκε μετά την ασθένεια.” |
| Hebrew | להחמיר (Lehamir) | “המצב הבריאותי שלו הלך והחמיר אחרי התאונה.” |
| Swedish | Försämras | “Hälsotillståndet försämrades snabbt.” |
| Norwegian | Forverres | “Helsesituasjonen forverret seg etter ulykken.” |
| Danish | Forværres | “Bilens tilstand forværredes efter ulykken.” |
| Finnish | Heikentyä | “Rakennuksen kunto heikentyi ajan myötä.” |
| Polish | Pogarszać | “Jakość powietrza pogarszała się przez całe lato.” |
| Czech | Zhoršit se | “Jeho zdraví se po operaci zhoršilo.” |
| Hungarian | Romlani | “A beteg állapota gyorsan romlott.” |
| Romanian | Se deteriora | “Starea sa de sănătate s-a deteriorat rapid.” |
| Thai | ทรุดโทรม (Thrudthom) | “อาคารเริ่มทรุดโทรมเนื่องจากการไม่ดูแลรักษา” |
| Vietnamese | Xấu đi | “Sức khỏe của anh ấy xấu đi sau khi tai nạn.” |
| Indonesian | Memburuk | “Kondisi pasien semakin memburuk setelah kejadian itu.” |
| Malay | Merosot | “Keadaan rumah itu semakin merosot kerana kekurangan penyelenggaraan.” |
| Swahili | Kudhoofika | “Hali ya nyumba ilianza kudhoofika kutokana na mvua.” |
| Filipino | Lumala | “Ang kalagayan ng kalusugan niya ay lumala pagkatapos ng aksidente.” |
| Arabic | تدهور (Tadawwur) | “حالته الصحية بدأت في التدهور بعد الحادث.” |
| Estonian | Halvenema | “Maja seisund halvenes aasta-aastalt.” |
Additional Examples in Selected Languages
- French:
- “La situation économique a continué de se détériorer après la crise.”
- “Les relations entre les deux pays se sont détériorées à cause du conflit.”
- Spanish:
- “La salud de Juan se deterioró rápidamente después de la operación.”
- “El estado de la carretera se ha deteriorado debido a las inclemencias del tiempo.”
- German:
- “Die Qualität der Luft verschlechterte sich, als die Fabriken ihre Abgase vergrößerten.”
- “Der Zustand des Gebäudes hat sich verschlechtert, nachdem es jahrelang unbeachtet blieb.”
- Chinese (Simplified):
- “机器的状态由于长时间使用而逐渐恶化。”
- “她的健康状况恶化了，无法再工作。”
- Arabic:
- “شروط العمل في هذه الشركة قد تدهورت في السنوات الأخيرة.”
- “الاقتصاد المحلي تدهور بسبب الأزمة المالية.”
The word deteriorate holds significant meaning in a variety of contexts. It describes the process of gradual decline in both physical and abstract terms, including the degradation of material conditions, health, relationships, and even societal structures. Understanding its usage across different languages shows the universal recognition of decline or degradation as an important concept in human experience. Whether referring to a building, a person’s health, or the state of the economy, deteriorate helps us articulate the inevitable processes of decay that affect many aspects of life.
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