腐蚀

• Pinyin: fǔ shí
• Hanzi breakdown: 腐 = 广 + 肉 + 府 (decay); 蚀 = 食 + 虫 (erode, gnaw, eat away)

Meaning

To corrode; to erode; to cause gradual deterioration through chemical action or corrupting moral influence.

Used both literally (metal corroding, acid eating away material) and figuratively (corruption eroding a person's integrity). In chemistry and materials science, it describes chemical degradation. Figuratively, it describes the corrupting influence of money, power, or vice.

Examples

1. 长期暴露在潮湿盐雾环境中，钢铁管道受到了严重的腐蚀。 After long-term exposure to a damp, salty environment, the steel pipelines suffered severe corrosion.
2. 金钱和权力的诱惑腐蚀了这名曾经廉洁从政的年轻干部。 The temptations of money and power corrupted this young official who once served with integrity.
3. 酸雨对古建筑表面的石雕造成了不可逆转的腐蚀破坏。 Acid rain caused irreversible corrosive damage to the stone carvings on the surface of ancient buildings.

Usage Guide

Context: chemistry, politics, environment

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这种防腐涂料能有效防止金属构件受到化学腐蚀。(This anti-corrosion coating can effectively prevent metal components from being chemically corroded.)
• 不良思想一旦渗入，便会逐步腐蚀一个人的精神世界。(Once bad ideas seep in, they will gradually corrode a person's inner world.)

Don't Say

• 腐蚀了感情 — use 伤害 or 侵蚀 for emotional damage; 腐蚀 is stronger and implies gradual, destructive chemical or moral erosion

Origin & History

腐 (rot/decay) + 蚀 (erode/gnaw away)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal