yù愈moreyǎn演developyù愈moreliè烈intense
To become more and more intense; to escalate.
Literal meaning
more (愈) — develop (演) — more (愈) — intense (烈)
Origin
A classical four-character phrase describing a situation that is worsening over time.
Examples
Liǎng两guó国zhī之jiān间de的chōng冲tū突yù愈yǎn演yù愈liè烈。
The conflict between the two countries is escalating.
Suí随zhe着shí时jiān间de的tuī推yí移，tā他de的bìng病qíng情yù愈yǎn演yù愈liè烈。
As time went on, his illness became more and more serious.
Usage & nuances
Usually used to describe negative situations that are getting worse.
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