The Chinese word **侵蚀 (qīnshí)** is a compound formed by combining two semantically related characters: **侵 (qīn)**, meaning "to invade" or "to encroach upon," and **蚀 (shí)**, meaning "to erode," "to corrode," or "to lose." Together, they create a metaphorical and literal meaning where one entity gradually encroaches upon and wears away another, most commonly used to describe geological processes like water or wind erosion (水土侵蚀), but also extended to abstract concepts like the erosion of rights or moral decay. The formation follows a parallel structure where both characters contribute actions (invading and corroding) that synergistically describe a single, gradual process of deterioration.