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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#17679DifficultyHard
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
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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.
Memory Mnemonic
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.
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.
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.
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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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.
Engineers said that plutonium could begin seeping from the corroded sub.
8
还有更多熟悉的地貌是因地表侵蚀形成的。
huán yǒu gēng duō shú xī de dì mào shì yīn dì biǎo qīn shí xíng chéng de。
More familiar landscapes have been sculpted by surface erosion.
9
这片土壤遭到侵蚀。
zhè piàn tǔ rǎng zāo dào qīn shí。
The ground had eroded.
10
陆上侵蚀常夷平成准平原.
lù shàng qīn shí cháng yí píng chéng zhǔn píng yuán.
Subaerial erosion occurs often with reduction to a peneplain.
Cultural Notes for 蚀
🏮Cultural insight
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.
Word Family of 蚀
Words Containing This Character17
腐蚀fǔshícorrosion腐蝕
侵蚀to erode侵蝕
蚀shíto erode蝕
锈蚀rust銹蝕
蚀刻to etch蝕刻
剥蚀to corrode剝蝕
风蚀wind erosion風蝕
溶蚀dissolving溶蝕
月蚀lunar eclipse月蝕
磨蚀erosion磨蝕
海蚀coastal erosion海蝕
消蚀erosion消蝕
腐蚀剂a corrosive (chemical)腐蝕劑
偷鸡不成蚀把米to go for wool and come back shorn偷雞不成蝕把米
全蚀total eclipse全蝕
蛀蚀to corrupt蛀蝕
偷鸡不着蚀把米to go for wool and come back shorn偷雞不著蝕把米
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 腐蚀 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 蚀
You can say '时间蚀去我的记忆' (shíjiān shí qù wǒ de jìyì), which means 'Time erodes my memories'.
蚀 is more commonly found in written Chinese, especially in literary contexts, rather than in everyday conversation.
Some synonyms include '侵蚀' (to invade/erode) and '腐蚀' (to corrode), both of which also imply gradual deterioration.
