朽ちる

• Reading: くちる
• Romaji: kuchiru
• Kanji breakdown: 朽 (kyū/ku) — decay, rot, crumble
• Pronunciation: /kɯ.t͡ɕi.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To rot; to decay; to crumble away. Describes the gradual deterioration of physical objects or, figuratively, of reputation or spirit.

A Group 2 (ichidan) intransitive verb used for organic matter decomposing, structures falling apart, or metaphorically for names and reputations fading. It carries a literary, somewhat melancholic tone and appears often in written or poetic language.

Examples

1. 放置された木造の家が朽ちていた。 The abandoned wooden house was rotting away.
2. 森の中で倒れた木が少しずつ朽ちている。 A fallen tree in the forest is slowly decaying.
3. 彼の名は歴史の中で朽ちることはないだろう。 His name will not fade into obscurity in the pages of history.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, nature, figurative speech

Tone: melancholic

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 朽 depicts wood (木) in a state of decay, representing the natural process of deterioration over time.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal