vicious circle; vicious cycle; downward spiral
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
vicious circle; vicious cycle; downward spiral
formalCommonly used in economics, sociology, medicine, and psychology to describe self-reinforcing negative patterns that deteriorate over time.
Jīng经
jì济
shuāi衰
tuì退
dǎo导
zhì致
shī失
yè业
，
shī失
yè业
yòu又
dǎo导
zhì致
xiāo消
fèi费
jiǎn减
shǎo少
，
xíng形
chéng成
le了
è恶
xìng性
xún循
huán环
。
Economic recession leads to unemployment, which in turn reduces consumption, forming a vicious cycle.
Pín贫
kùn困
dǎo导
zhì致
jiào教
yù育
shuǐ水
píng平
dī低
xià下
，
jiào教
yù育
shuǐ水
píng平
dī低
xià下
yòu又
jiā加
jù剧
pín贫
kùn困
，
zhè这
shì是
yī一
gè个
è恶
xìng性
xún循
huán环
。
Poverty leads to low education levels, which in turn exacerbate poverty—this is a vicious circle.
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Wǒ我
men们
bì必
xū须
dǎ打
pò破
zhè这
zhǒng种
è恶
xìng性
xún循
huán环
，
xún寻
zhǎo找
kě可
chí持
xù续
fā发
zhǎn展
de的
dào道
lù路
。
We must break this vicious cycle and find a path of sustainable development.
Tuō拖
yán延
dǎo导
zhì致
yā压
lì力
zēng增
dà大
，
yā压
lì力
zēng增
dà大
yòu又
dǎo导
zhì致
gèng更
duō多
tuō拖
yán延
，
xíng形
chéng成
le了
è恶
xìng性
xún循
huán环
。
Procrastination leads to increased stress, which in turn leads to more procrastination, creating a vicious cycle.