Definition
酿成 (niàng chéng) is a resultative compound (酿 + 成) with two connected but distinct uses. The literal meaning is 'to ferment and produce' (wine, vinegar, sauce), though this usage is rare in everyday speech. The far more common figurative sense is 'to lead to (a serious negative outcome)'; it carries a formal, often journalistic tone and is used for disastrous or unfortunate consequences — think 酿成大祸 ('cause a major calamity') or 酿成悲剧 ('lead to tragedy'). You do not use 酿成 for neutral or positive results.
r.v.
to lead to (a serious negative outcome)to cause (disasters, tragedies)(formal, literal) to brew or ferment (wine, vinegar, etc.)
Examples
- 酿成。Yí cì xiǎoxiǎo de shūhu jiù niàng chéng le yì chǎng dà huò.One small oversight led to a major disaster.
- ，酿成。Dāngshí de juécè bú dàng, zuìzhōng niàng chéng le wúfǎ wǎnhuí de bēijù.The improper decision at the time eventually caused an irreparable tragedy.
- 酿成。Zhè zhǒng liángshi kěyǐ niàng chéng měiwèi de hǎo jiǔ.This kind of grain can be fermented into fine, delicious wine.
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