Chinese word

腐蚀

Pronunciation

Pinyinfǔ shí

Meaning

  • verbcorrode

Example

这个管子被腐蚀了。zhè ge guǎn zi bèi fǔ shí le

The pipe was corroded.

Illustration for 腐蚀 (corrode)

More examples

酸雨会腐蚀老旧建筑的外墙。suān yǔ huì fǔ shí lǎo jiù jiàn zhù de wài qiáng

Acid rain corrodes the exterior walls of old buildings.

Core concept

A slow chemical attack steadily removes material from metal or stone, changing a sound surface into a weakened, pitted, or holed one.

Common phrases

  • 腐蚀金属表面fǔ shí jīn shú biǎo miàn

    corrode metal surfaces

  • 腐蚀管道fǔ shí guǎn dào

    corrode pipelines

  • 腐蚀零件fǔ shí líng jiàn

    corrode parts

Similar words

侵蚀qīn shí: Gradually wears away soil or a material's surface through water, wind, or chemicals.
锈蚀xiù shí: Damages a metal surface by causing rust through contact with oxygen or moisture.
氧化yǎng huà: Causes a substance to change into another substance by reacting with oxygen.

Definition in Chinese

指金属、石材等由于化学或电化学作用逐渐被破坏或溶蚀的过程或行为。zhǐ jīn shǔ shí cái děng yóu yú huà xué huò diàn huà xué zuò yòng zhú jiàn bèi pò huài huò róng shí de guò chéng huò xíng wéi

Word origin

In 腐蚀 (fǔshí, "corrode"), 腐 (fǔ, "decay") marks deterioration and 蚀 (shí, "eat away") adds the idea of material being consumed bit by bit.

Usage tips

  • The word applies to stone as well as metal, so it describes environmental damage to building surfaces and monuments, not only damage to pipes or tools.

Other meanings

  • corrosionnoun
  • erodeverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 腐蚀性fǔ shí xìngcorrosivenessnoun
  • 腐蚀剂fǔ shí jìcorrosive agentnoun

Word lists with this word