蛀

zhù
主 + 虫

Definitions

zhù termite; to bore (of insects)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 虫 represents the meaning and 主 represents the sound.

Semantic: 虫 Phonetic: 主

About

蛀 is a phonosemantic compound. Its left radical 虫 (chóng), meaning 'insect' or 'bug', signals the pests that bore into materials, while the right component 主 (zhǔ) gives the pronunciation. Originally, the character named wood-boring insects, bookworms, and clothes moths; it later shifted to a verb meaning 'to be eaten away or hollowed out by pests.' Today it is used for cavities in teeth, deteriorated wooden furniture, and metaphorically for corrupted systems in decline.

Example Sentences Hide

我的牙齿有蛀牙。

Wǒ de yáchǐ yǒu zhùyá.

My tooth has a cavity.

蛀牙会引起牙痛。

Zhùyá huì yǐnqǐ yátòng.

Cavities can cause toothache.

他去看牙医治蛀牙。

Tā qù kàn yáyī zhì zhùyá.

He went to see the dentist to treat his cavity.

预防蛀牙要勤刷牙。

Yùfáng zhùyá yào qín shuāyá.

To prevent cavities, one should brush teeth frequently.

木头被虫子蛀了。

Mùtou bèi chóngzi zhù le.

The wood was eaten by insects.

这本书被蛀虫咬坏了。

Zhè běn shū bèi zhùchóng yǎo huài le.

This book was damaged by bookworms.

长期不护理牙齿容易蛀牙。

Chángqī bù hùlǐ yáchǐ róngyì zhùyá.

Not taking care of teeth for a long time can easily lead to cavities.

蛀虫在树干里钻了许多洞。

Zhùchóng zài shùgàn lǐ zuān le xǔduō dòng.

The borers drilled many holes in the tree trunk.

Related Characters

Component: 主

住 往 注 驻 柱 拄 炷 麈 駐 砫 註 妵 黈

Component: 虫

虽 独 触 融 虫 蛋 蛇 蜂 蜜 蛮 虹 蝶 螺 蚁

Example Words

蛀牙 蛀虫 虫蛀