悪循環
Meanings
1
vicious circle; vicious cycle
A self-reinforcing negative situation where one problem causes another, which in turn worsens the first. The antonym is 好循環 (virtuous circle).
Antonyms: 好循環
We need to break the vicious circle of poverty and disease.
I'm caught in a vicious cycle where lack of sleep causes stress, which makes it even harder to sleep.
Usage patterns
- 悪循環に陥るto fall into a vicious cycle
The debt kept piling up and he fell into a vicious cycle.
- 悪循環を断ち切るto break a vicious cycle
To break this vicious cycle, you need to change your lifestyle habits.
- 悪循環が続くfor a vicious cycle to continue
I overeat from stress, and the vicious cycle keeps going.
- 悪循環を招くto invite/cause a vicious cycle
Excessive overtime invites a vicious cycle of worsening health and falling productivity.