蚕食 (cán shí) — to nibble away at; to encroach upon gradually

Definition

Literally 'a silkworm eating' (mulberry leaves bit by bit), used for gradual, steady encroachment — territory, market share, or land lost a little at a time.

verb

to nibble away atto encroach upon gradually

Examples

蚕食。
Zhè ge guó jiā tōng guò qiān yuē zhú bù cán shí lín guó de lǐng tǔ.
This country nibbled away at its neighbor's territory through treaties.
蚕食。
Dà gōng sī zhèng zài cán shí xiǎo qǐ yè de shì chǎng fèn é.
Large companies are gradually eating into the market share of small businesses.
蚕食。
Fēng shā rì fù yí rì dì cán shí zhe zhè piàn gēng dì.
The wind and sand nibbled away at this farmland day after day.