朽 (xiǔ) — rotten, decayed; decrepit, senile (of people); immortal, enduring (in 不朽)
Definition
A literary adjective meaning 'rotted / decayed,' often used in the set phrase 不朽 ('immortal, enduring') to praise lasting achievements.
adjective
rottendecayeddecrepitsenile (of people)immortalenduring (in 不朽)
Examples
- ，。Zhè kuài mù tou yǐ jīng fǔ xiǔ le, bù néng yòng le.This piece of wood has already rotted and can't be used.
- ，。Tā suī rán nián shì yǐ gāo, dàn shēn tǐ bìng bù lǎo xiǔ.Although he is advanced in years, his body is not decrepit.
- 。Yīng xióng de shì jì yǒng chuí bù xiǔ.The deeds of heroes will be forever immortal.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
Sound part声符shēngfú
丂
丂kǎo朽xiǔ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
朽 pairs 木, a tree/wood, with 丂, which gives the sound. The 木 part connects it to wood.
Appears in
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