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March 24, 2026
蚀(蝕)shí(shi2)
The character 蚀 (shí) refers to the action of nibbling away at something, often in a gradual or insidious manner. It can describe physical erosion, such as how water wears away rock, or metaphorical erosion, such as financial losses or trust being undermined over time.
Strokes9Radical饣Frequency#17679DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
蚀 is often used in literary and philosophical contexts in China to describe the slow decay of moral values or societal structures, reflecting the importance of maintaining integrity over time.
Memory Tip
Imagine a small insect nibbling on a piece of wood. The insect represents the radical '虫' (insect), while the '食' component signifies eating. Visualize this insect slowly eroding the wood, which connects the character's meaning to the idea of gradual destruction.
Meanings of 蚀
shí(shi2)
1to nibble away at sth
2to eat into
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 蚀
蚀Simplified
蝕Traditional
9Strokes
饣Radical
动语素dòngcíverb root (v.root)Part of Speech
#17679Frequency Rank
Podcast: 蚀
Podcast: 蚀
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AI Study Notes for 蚀
Quick Contrast
蚀 (shí) vs 削 (xuē) — use 蚀 for gradual or insidious erosion, while 削 refers to cutting or shaving off material more directly.
Usage Notes
蚀 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, particularly in discussions about deterioration. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding characters; the tone is important as it is pronounced with a rising tone (shí). Common collocations include '侵蚀' (qīnshí - to invade/erode) and '腐蚀' (fǔshí - to corrode).
HSK Study Tips
Although 蚀 is not included in the HSK levels, it is related to HSK vocabulary through themes of decay and erosion. Students should focus on its usage in context and practice combining it with other verbs that describe change or deterioration.
Common Mistakes
Learners might confuse 蚀 with 食 (shí - to eat) due to the similar pronunciation and components. Remember that 蚀 specifically involves the idea of erosion or gradual wear, unlike 食, which is a more general term for eating.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 蚀
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1The giveawayAn insect 虫 bite 饣; 饣 also provides the pronunciation
2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 蚀? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 蚀?
Decomposition of 蚀
IDS Structure⿰饣虫
蚀Full Character
=
饣shi2
left
虫chong2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 蚀?
How to say to nibble away at sth in Chinese
“to nibble away at sth” in Chinese is蚀shí
The character 蚀 (shí) refers to the action of nibbling away at something, often in a gradual or insidious manner. It can describe physical erosion, such as how water wears away rock, or metaphorical erosion, such as financial losses or trust being undermined over time.
When to use 蚀
蚀 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, particularly in discussions about deterioration. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding characters; the tone is important as it is pronounced with a rising tone (shí). Common collocations include '侵蚀' (qīnshí - to invade/erode) and '腐蚀' (fǔshí - to corrode).
蚀 or something close to it
蚀 (shí) vs 削 (xuē) — use 蚀 for gradual or insidious erosion, while 削 refers to cutting or shaving off material more directly.
What learners get wrong
Learners might confuse 蚀 with 食 (shí - to eat) due to the similar pronunciation and components. Remember that 蚀 specifically involves the idea of erosion or gradual wear, unlike 食, which is a more general term for eating.
Write 蚀
蚀
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Practice writing 蚀 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 蚀
蚀 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
这会让肥沃的土壤暴露在外，使其容易受到侵____。
This leaves fertile soil unprotected and prone to erosion.
