About
The character 腐 is a phono-semantic compound consisting of the meat radical 肉, which signifies its association with organic matter, and the component 府, which primarily provides its phonetic value. Its original sense pertained to the rotting of flesh or food, a meaning that gradually extended to encompass metaphorical forms of decay, such as moral corruption or institutional degeneracy. This evolution from concrete to abstract meanings occurred over long periods of linguistic development, while the character's written form has persisted without significant alteration.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我喜欢吃豆腐。
水果腐烂了。
腐败食物不能吃。
木头已经腐朽了。
这种食品含有防腐剂。
权力可能导致腐化。
社会腐败现象需要整治。
为了防止食物腐烂，我们使用了防腐剂。