美化 měihuà to make more beautiful
to make more beautiful; to decorate; embellishment
How to remember 美化: 美 beautiful + 化 change = to make more beautiful.
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How it is used
- To beautify/embellish - 美化环境 (měihuà huánjìng) to spruce up the surroundings.
- Also negative: to whitewash/gloss over: 美化侵略 (měihuà qīnlüè) to prettify aggression.
- The literal (decorate) and figurative (put a false shine on) senses are both common; context decides the tone.