腐朽 (fǔ xiǔ) — (adjective) rotten, decayed (literal); decadent, degenerate, corrupt (figurative); (verb) to rot, to decay, to become corrupt

Definition

腐朽 (fǔxiǔ) covers both physical decay and moral/social corruption, more literary than 腐烂. Unlike 腐败 it stresses the process of decay rather than bribery.

adjective
rottendecayed (literal)decadentdegeneratecorrupt (figurative)
verb
to rotto decayto become corrupt

Examples

  • 腐朽
    Zhè kuài mù tou kāi shǐ fǔ xiǔ le.
    This piece of wood is starting to rot.
  • 腐朽
    fǔ xiǔ De zhì dù dǎo zhì le guó jiā de shuāi luò.
    The decadent system caused the decline of the country.
  • 腐朽
    Nà ge dì guó zhú jiàn fǔ xiǔ le.
    That empire gradually decayed.

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.