Definitions

(verb) to rot; to decay
(adjective) rotten; corrupt

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the sound and represents the meaning.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "腐" is structured with the phonetic component "府" positioned above the semantic radical "肉", which directly points to its original association with the decay or rotting of flesh. Its early usage primarily denoted physical decomposition, particularly of organic substances like meat, leading to meanings such as putrefaction or spoilage. Over time, the term's application extended beyond the literal to encompass abstract forms of deterioration, including corrupt governance or moral decay. In modern contexts, while retaining these fundamental senses, the character has also developed specialized meanings within certain subcultures, such as referencing specific narrative genres.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我喜欢吃豆

Wǒ xǐ huān chī dòu fu.

I like eating tofu.

水果烂了。

Shuǐ guǒ fǔ làn le.

The fruit has rotted.

败食物不能吃。

Fǔ bài shí wù bù néng chī.

Rotten food cannot be eaten.

木头已经朽了。

Mù tou yǐ jīng fǔ xiǔ le.

The wood has already decayed.

这种食品含有防剂。

Zhè zhǒng shí pǐn hán yǒu fáng fǔ jì.

This food contains preservatives.

权力可能导致化。

Quán lì kě néng dǎo zhì fǔ huà.

Power may lead to corruption.

社会败现象需要整治。

Shè huì fǔ bài xiàn xiàng xū yào zhěng zhì.

Social corruption phenomena need to be addressed.

为了防止食物烂,我们使用了防剂。

Wèi le fáng zhǐ shí wù fǔ làn, wǒ men shǐ yòng le fáng fǔ jì.

To prevent food from rotting, we used preservatives.