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March 24, 2026
腐fǔ(fu3)
The character 腐 (fǔ) primarily means 'to decay' or 'to rot', often used in contexts related to food, organic matter, or metaphorically to describe moral decay. It conveys a sense of deterioration and spoilage, and is commonly used in both literal and figurative expressions.
Strokes14Radical肉Frequency#18218DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
腐 is often used in discussions about food safety in China, where food spoilage can lead to significant health concerns. The emphasis on freshness in Chinese cuisine makes this character particularly relevant in culinary contexts.
Memory Tip
Imagine a piece of fruit that has become so rotten that it has fallen apart, signifying '腐' (fǔ) or decay. The character has the radical '肉' (ròu), which means 'meat', indicating that it often relates to something that can rot, especially organic matter.
Meanings of 腐
fǔ(fu3)
1decay
2rotten
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 腐
腐Simplified
14Strokes
肉Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#18218Frequency Rank
Podcast: 腐
Podcast: 腐
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AI Study Notes for 腐
Quick Contrast
腐 (fǔ) vs 败 (bài) — use 腐 for decay in organic contexts, while 败 refers to defeat or failure.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a piece of fruit that has become so rotten that it has fallen apart, signifying '腐' (fǔ) or decay. The character has the radical '肉' (ròu), which means 'meat', indicating that it often relates to something that can rot, especially organic matter.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the register when using 腐; it can carry a negative connotation in both literal and metaphorical uses. Common collocations include 腐败 (fǔbài - corruption) and 腐烂 (fǔlàn - rot). Avoid using it in overly formal contexts unless discussing specific issues, like environmental concerns.
HSK Study Tips
Although 腐 is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, it connects with words related to decay and decline, such as 毁 (huǐ - to destroy) and 衰 (shuāi - to decline). Students should focus on recognizing its components and how they relate to decay in both physical and moral contexts.
Cultural Note
腐 is often used in discussions about food safety in China, where food spoilage can lead to significant health concerns. The emphasis on freshness in Chinese cuisine makes this character particularly relevant in culinary contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 腐 (fǔ) with other similar characters like 负 (fù - to bear, to owe). For example, saying '我觉得这食物是负的' (wǒ juédé zhè shíwù shì fù de) is incorrect; the correct phrase should be '我觉得这食物是腐的' (wǒ juédé zhè shíwù shì fǔ de).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 腐
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Grammar Patterns of 腐
腐 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Every piece of timber was planed, cut to size and stained with cedar preservative.
Cultural Notes for 腐
🏮Cultural insight
腐 is often used in discussions about food safety in China, where food spoilage can lead to significant health concerns. The emphasis on freshness in Chinese cuisine makes this character particularly relevant in culinary contexts.
Word Family of 腐
Words Containing This Character20
腐败fǔbàicorruption腐敗
豆腐dòufutofu
腐烂fǔlànto rot腐爛
腐蚀fǔshícorrosion腐蝕
腐fǔdecay
腐朽fǔxiǔrotten
反腐败to oppose corruption反腐敗
防腐rotproof
腐化fǔhuàto rot
防腐剂preservative防腐劑
反腐倡廉to fight corruption and advocate probity
反腐anti-corruption
腐臭stinking
臭豆腐stinky tofu
迂腐pedantic
陈腐trite陳腐
腐肉carrion
腐乳pickled tofu
吃豆腐to eat tofu
腐竹roll of dried tofu strips
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 腐败 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 腐
Some synonyms for 腐 (fǔ) include 朽 (xiǔ), which also means 'decayed', and 腐败 (fǔbài), meaning 'corruption' or 'decay'. These words can be used in various contexts, from discussing food to talking about moral issues.
Yes, 腐 (fǔ) is used in idioms such as '腐肉' (fǔròu), which means 'rotten meat'. This idiom can be used metaphorically to describe something that is spoiled or undesirable. Understanding idioms can enhance your fluency in the language.
腐 (fǔ) means 'decay' or 'rotten' in Chinese. It can refer to both physical decay, such as food spoiling, and metaphorical decay, like moral decline. This character is often used in contexts related to decomposition or spoilage.
You can use 腐 (fǔ) in sentences to describe something that is rotten or decayed. For example, '这个苹果腐了' (zhège píngguǒ fǔle) means 'This apple is rotten.' It's commonly used in everyday conversations about food that has spoiled.
It is pronounced as 'fǔ', with a falling tone.
Yes, 腐 can also describe moral decay or corruption in a metaphorical sense.
Common phrases include 腐败 (fǔbài - corruption) and 腐烂 (fǔlàn - to rot).
