腐蚀 fǔshí corrosion
corrosion; to corrode (degrade chemically); to rot; corruption
How to remember 腐蚀: 腐 to spoil + 蚀 to nibble at = corrosion.
Characters
How it is used
- To corrode / eat away - chemically, and figuratively to corrupt - 酸会腐蚀金属 (suān huì fǔshí jīnshǔ) acid corrodes metal; 腐蚀干部 (fǔshí gànbù) to corrupt officials.
- The image is a gradual eating-away; used for rust/acid and for how money or vice slowly corrupts a person.
- Technical (chemistry) and moral registers both.
Example sentences
- 酸性腐蚀了金属。 Suānxìng fǔshí le jīnshǔ.The acid ate into the metal.