朽 (xiǔ) - rotten, decayed & aged

朽Tone 3

xiǔ ｜ 6 strokes ｜ radical: 木

信嫣

朽 · xiǔ

rotten, decayed;

aged;

worthless;

to rot, decay

rotten, decayedagedworthless

Usage highlights

rotten woodimmortalold and uselessdecayeternal gloryrotten and decayed

Synonyms

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The wood has rotted (木头朽了).
  • He is an old and useless person (他是个老朽).
  • This is an immortal masterpiece (不朽的杰作).
  • The rotten wood cannot be carved (朽木不可雕也).

Collocations

  • rotten wood(朽木)
  • immortal(不朽)
  • old and useless(老朽)
  • decay(腐朽)
  • eternal glory(永垂不朽)
  • rotten and decayed(朽烂)

Idioms

  • Rotten wood cannot be carved(朽木不可雕)
  • Eternal glory(永垂不朽)
  • Decadent and degenerate(腐朽堕落)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Confucian Analects, Confucius used 'rotten wood' to describe unpromising students.
  • Often used in contrast with concepts of immortality and eternal value.
  • Represents the natural process of decay and the transient nature of material things.

FAQ