変質|へんしつhenshitsu[0]heiban (flat)

Common
Definitions
  1. noun, suru verb, intransitive verbalteration (of character or essence); change in quality; transformation; deterioration; degeneration; transmutation
  2. nounperversion (esp. sexual)
Conjugation
Dictionary form変質する(へんしつする)
Polite (masu)変質します(へんしつします)
Negative (nai)変質しない(へんしつしない)
polite (masen)変質しません(へんしつしません)
classical zu / nu変質せず・変質せぬ(へんしつせず・へんしつせぬ)
Past (ta)変質した(へんしつした)
polite (mashita)変質しました(へんしつしました)
Past negative (nakatta)変質しなかった(へんしつしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)変質しませんでした(へんしつしませんでした)
Te form変質して(へんしつして)
Potential変質できる(へんしつできる)
Passive変質される(へんしつされる)
Causative変質させる(へんしつさせる)
Causative passive変質させられる(へんしつさせられる)
Conditional (ba)変質すれば(へんしつすれば)
tara変質したら(へんしつしたら)
Volitional変質しよう(へんしつしよう)
polite (mashou)変質しましょう(へんしつしましょう)
Imperative変質しろ(へんしつしろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym変容へんようNeutralTransformation of the overall look or aspect of something — cities, ideas, behavior (「都市の変容」). 「変質」 is about a change in quality or nature, often for the worse.
  • Synonym変成へんせいNeutralFormed by a change of form or quality; mostly used in geology, as in 「変成岩」 (metamorphic rock).
  • Related変じるへんじるWrittenMeans to change into something else; unlike 「変質」 it carries no suggestion of deterioration. Written style, and not often used.
  • Related変調へんちょうNeutralSomething being off or abnormal in condition, as in 「体の変調」; the emphasis is on disorder, not on a change in quality.
  • Related化するかするWrittenTo turn into something, as in 「廃墟と化する」. Written style; stresses the resulting state.
  • Related化すかすWrittenSame meaning as 「化する」 but conjugated as a godan verb. Written style; likewise stresses the result of turning into something.
  • Related変ずるへんずるWrittenSame meaning as 「変じる」 but with an even stronger literary flavor. Written style, little used.
  • Antonym不変ふへんNeutralAntonym: never changing, forever the same. Opposed to 「変質」, which is about a change in nature or quality.
  • Antonym恒常こうじょうNeutralAntonym: constancy — staying constant and unchanging throughout. Stands opposite to 「変質」.

Use 「変質」 for a change — usually a deterioration — in the quality or nature of something (「油が変質する」), or for a morbid personality. For a transformation in overall appearance use 「変容」; for something being off, 「変調」. 「変じる」「変ずる」「化する」「化す」 just mean to change into; 「変成」 is mostly geological; 「不変」 and 「恒常」 are antonyms.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese definitions
  1. 物ものの性質せいしつが変かわること。
  2. 普通ふつうと違ちがった病的びょうてきな性質せいしつ。
Kanji in this word
See also

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