磨损

• Pinyin: mó sǔn
• Hanzi breakdown: 磨 = 石 (stone) + 麻 (hemp) — grinding stone; 损 = 扌 (hand) + 员 (diminish) — to reduce, to damage

Meaning

To wear down; to erode; to abrade. Gradual deterioration of a surface or material through friction or repeated use.

Used for physical wear (brake pads, machinery, fabric) and figuratively for the erosion of things like trust or resolve. 正常磨损 (normal wear) is common in product warranties and maintenance contexts. 磨损程度 (degree of wear) appears in technical inspection reports.

Examples

1. 这双鞋的鞋底已经严重磨损，继续穿着不仅不舒适，还存在安全隐患。 The soles of these shoes are badly worn; continuing to wear them is not only uncomfortable but also a safety hazard.
2. 长期使用导致机器的关键部件出现磨损，进而影响了整体运转精度。 Long-term use caused wear on key parts of the machine, which in turn affected its overall operating precision.
3. 制动片磨损到安全标准以下时，系统会自动发出警报提示驾驶员及时更换。 When the brake pads wear below safety standards, the system automatically sounds an alert to remind the driver to replace them.

Usage Guide

Context: engineering, maintenance, consumer goods, everyday

Tone: technical, neutral

Do Say

• 定期保养可以有效减缓发动机各零部件的磨损速度，延长整机使用寿命。(Regular maintenance can effectively slow the rate of wear on engine components and extend the overall service life.)
• 合同中明确规定，正常使用过程中产生的磨损不属于保修服务的覆盖范围。(The contract clearly stipulates that wear produced during normal use is not covered within the scope of warranty services.)

Don't Say

• 把'磨损'用于突然损坏 (磨损 implies gradual wear over time; for sudden damage use 损坏 or 破损)

Origin & History

磨 (to grind, to rub) + 损 (to damage, to diminish). Together describe the damaging effect of friction accumulated over time.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal