腐烂 fǔlàn to rot
to rot; to putrefy; (figuratively) corrupt
How to remember 腐烂: 腐 to spoil + 烂 overcooked = to rot.
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How it is used
- To rot / decompose - of organic matter going bad - 水果腐烂了 (shuǐguǒ fǔlàn le) the fruit has rotted.
- The most concrete of the 腐- family: physical decay of food, corpses, wood; contrast 腐败 (corruption, mostly moral) and 腐朽 (decadent).
- Can be figurative too (腐烂的灵魂 a rotten soul), but the literal spoilage sense leads.