发酵 fājiào to ferment
to ferment; (figuratively) (of trends, emotions or repercussions etc) to bubble away; to simmer; to develop
How to remember 发酵: 发 send out + 酵 yeast = to ferment.
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How it is used
- Literal 'to ferment' (面团发酵 the dough rises; 发酵食品 fermented foods), and a vivid figurative sense: an issue/scandal 'simmering and snowballing' - 事件持续发酵 (shìjiàn chíxù fājiào) the affair kept escalating.
- The figurative use (of trends, emotions, controversies bubbling up and spreading) is very common in news.