(huì) - To decompose, to rot & to fester

Tone 4

huì | 16 strokes | radical:

· huì

To decompose, to rot;

to fester;

to ulcerate;

also used in classical texts to describe decaying matter.

To decompose, to rotto festerto ulcerate

Usage highlights

festering pusdecomposing corpseulcerated woundrotting fleshputrefaction

Synonyms

  • rot, decay
  • rotten, decomposed
  • fester, ulcerate

Antonyms

  • live, fresh
  • fresh, new

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The wound began to fester (殨脓).
  • The corpse was decomposing (尸体殨烂).
  • Ancient texts mention ulcerated sores (殨疡).

Collocations

  • festering pus(殨脓)
  • decomposing corpse(殨尸)
  • ulcerated wound(殨疡)
  • rotting flesh(殨肉)
  • putrefaction(殨烂)

Idioms

  • Festering sores and rotten ulcers(殨疡溃烂)
  • Rotting flesh and decomposing bones(殨肉朽骨)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Primarily appears in classical medical or literary texts describing decay and disease.
  • Considered an inauspicious character due to associations with death and decay.
  • Rarely used in modern vernacular Chinese outside specialized contexts.

FAQ