腐朽

• Pinyin: fǔ xiǔ
• Hanzi breakdown: 腐 = 广 + 肉 + 府 (putrid, decay); 朽 = 木 + 丂 (rotted wood, decay)

Meaning

Decayed; rotten; corrupt and obsolete. Describes something physically rotted beyond use, or an outdated, corrupt system or ideology.

Used for wood that has rotted, old institutions in total decay, and obsolete or corrupt thinking. Often appears in political rhetoric to describe feudal or exploitative systems. More severe than 腐败 — implies complete, irreversible deterioration.

Examples

1. 那棵百年老树的树干已经严重腐朽，随时有倒塌的危险。 The trunk of that century-old tree is badly rotted and could collapse at any time.
2. 封建腐朽的制度压迫了人民数千年，理应被彻底废除。 A feudal, rotten system oppressed the people for thousands of years and deserves to be abolished completely.
3. 这座废弃的老宅年久失修，木质结构大部分已经腐朽不堪。 This abandoned old house has fallen into disrepair for years, and most of its wooden structure has rotted beyond use.

Usage Guide

Context: political, literary, history

Tone: critical

Do Say

• 历史的车轮终将碾碎一切腐朽没落的旧势力。(The wheels of history will ultimately crush all decayed and declining old forces.)
• 那批腐朽的木质构件必须全部更换，才能保证建筑的安全。(All those rotted wooden components must be completely replaced to ensure the structural safety of the building.)

Don't Say

• 腐朽的食物 — for food that has gone bad, use 腐烂 or 变质; 腐朽 is specifically used for wood, structures, or ideologies

Origin & History

腐 (rotten/decayed) + 朽 (rotted/decayed wood)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal