'Worsening' is the -ing form of the verb 'worsen', which means to become worse, or to make something worse. It works both ways: a situation can worsen by itself ("His health worsened over the winter"), or something can worsen it ("The rain worsened the traffic").

'Worsening' is'Worsening'是 the -ing form of the verb 'worsen'動詞worsen的-ing形式, which means意思是 to become worse變得更糟, or或 to make something worse讓某樣東西變得更糟。It works both ways這用法是雙向的: a situation can worsen by itself情況可以自己惡化 ('His health worsened over the winter'他的健康在冬天惡化了), or或 something can worsen it某樣東西可以讓它惡化 ('The rain worsened the traffic'雨讓交通惡化了)。

As 'worsening' it does two jobs. It is the ordinary continuous form of the verb — "Her eyesight is worsening" — and it also sits in front of a noun to describe a thing that is getting worse right now: "worsening weather", "a worsening economy", "worsening relations between the two countries". Used that way it feels like an adjective, and this is probably where you will meet it most, because it is a favourite of news writers. There is also a noun use, less common: "a worsening of the situation".

As 'worsening'當'worsening'這個字用時 it does two jobs它有兩個功能。It is它是 the ordinary continuous form of the verb一般的動詞進行式 — 'Her eyesight is worsening'像'Her eyesight is worsening' — and而且 it also sits in front of a noun它也可以放在名詞前面 to describe a thing that is getting worse right now描述正在惡化中的事物: 'worsening weather'、'a worsening economy'、'worsening relations between the two countries'。Used that way這樣用的時候 it feels like an adjective感覺就像形容詞，and而 this is probably where you will meet it most這大概是你最常遇到它的地方，because因為 it is a favourite of news writers這是新聞寫作者愛用的說法。There is也有 also a noun use一個名詞用法，less common比較少見: 'a worsening of the situation'。

Notice what 'worsen' does NOT cover: it is almost never used about people's behaviour or about small everyday annoyances. We do not say "my mood worsened" or "the food worsened" — we say "got worse".

Notice要注意 what 'worsen' does NOT cover'worsen'不涵蓋什麼: it is almost never used幾乎不會用來說 about people's behaviour or about small everyday annoyances人的行為或日常生活中的小煩惱。We do not say我們不會說 'my mood worsened' or 'the food worsened' — we say而是說 'got worse'。

'Worsen' and 'worsening' belong to serious, often written or formal contexts: illness, weather, economies, wars, pollution, shortages, conflicts, conditions. So a doctor writes "the patient's condition is worsening" but tells the family "he's getting worse". Both mean the same; one is a report, one is a conversation.

'Worsen' and 'worsening''Worsen'和'worsening' belong to serious, often written or formal contexts屬於嚴肅、通常是書面或正式的情境: illness, weather, economies, wars, pollution, shortages, conflicts, conditions疾病、天氣、經濟、戰爭、污染、短缺、衝突、狀況。So所以 a doctor writes醫生會寫 'the patient's condition is worsening' but但 tells the family跟家屬說 'he's getting worse'。Both mean the same兩種說法意思相同; one is a report一個是報告，one is a conversation一個是對話。

If you are ever unsure whether 'worsen' fits, ask yourself whether the thing is big and serious enough to be in the news. If not, 'get worse' is the safe and natural choice — and 'get worse' is never wrong, even in the serious cases.

If you are ever unsure如果你不確定 whether 'worsen' fits'worsen'適不適用, ask yourself就問自己 whether the thing is big and serious enough to be in the news這件事是否大到、嚴重到會上新聞。If not如果不是, 'get worse' is the safe and natural choice'get worse'是安全又自然的選擇 — and而且 'get worse' is never wrong'get worse'永遠不會錯, even in the serious cases即使在嚴重的情況下也一樣。