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March 24, 2026
腐烂(腐爛)fǔlàn(fu3lan4)
腐烂 (fǔlàn) refers to the process of decay or decomposition, often used to describe organic matter that has gone bad. It can also be used figuratively to describe corruption or moral decay in individuals or systems, making it relevant in both literal and metaphorical contexts.
Frequency#5987DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
腐烂 can also be found in discussions about food safety and hygiene in Chinese culture, where there is a strong emphasis on freshness and quality in food. The concept of '腐烂' brings attention to the importance of avoiding spoiled food in culinary practices.
Memory Tip
Imagine a piece of fruit that is 'fu'll of life but has started to 'lan'guish and rot away. Visualize the fruit turning brown and mushy, connecting the sound 'fu' with decay and 'lan' with the idea of something losing its vitality.
Meanings of 腐烂
fǔlàn(fu3lan4)
1to rot
2to putrefy
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 腐烂
腐烂Simplified
腐爛Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#5987Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 腐烂
Podcast: 腐烂
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AI Study Notes for 腐烂
Quick Contrast
腐败 (fǔbài) vs 腐烂 (fǔlàn): Use 腐败 for moral or systemic corruption, while 腐烂 refers specifically to physical decay.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a piece of fruit that is 'fu'll of life but has started to 'lan'guish and rot away. Visualize the fruit turning brown and mushy, connecting the sound 'fu' with decay and 'lan' with the idea of something losing its vitality.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 腐烂 with similar terms like 腐败 (fǔbài), which specifically refers to corruption in governance or morality. This term is more neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. Common collocations include 腐烂的食物 (rotten food) and 腐烂的道德 (decayed morals).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 腐烂 connects with other advanced vocabulary that discusses decay, deterioration, or corruption, such as 变质 (biànzhì, to deteriorate) and 腐败 (fǔbài, corruption). Focus on using it in both literal and figurative sentences to enhance comprehension.
Cultural Note
腐烂 can also be found in discussions about food safety and hygiene in Chinese culture, where there is a strong emphasis on freshness and quality in food. The concept of '腐烂' brings attention to the importance of avoiding spoiled food in culinary practices.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 腐烂 with 腐败, misusing it in contexts related to moral corruption. For example, saying '他的思想腐烂' (His thoughts are rotting) can be misleading; instead, use '他的思想腐败' (His thoughts are corrupt) for moral contexts.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 腐烂
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Grammar Patterns of 腐烂
腐烂 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 3 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
____的鱼臭气熏天
an overpowering stench of rotting fish
Example Sentences for 腐烂 (8)
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1
腐烂的鱼臭气熏天
fǔ làn de yú chòu qì xūn tiān
an overpowering stench of rotting fish
2
腐烂的鱼臭味使我恶心.
fǔ làn de yú chòu wèi shǐ wǒ è xīn.
The stink of the rotten fish turned my stomach.
3
你闻到一股腐烂之物的味道了 吗 ?
nǐ wén dào yī gǔ fǔ làn zhī wù de wèi dào le?
Can you smell something rotting?
4
树干的腐烂导致树倒了.
shù gān de fǔ làn dǎo zhì shù dǎo le.
Rot in the tree trunk caused the tree to fall.
5
调查发现一层地下的横梁大面积腐烂。
tiáo chá fā xiàn yī céng dì xià de héng liáng dà miàn jī fǔ làn。
Investigations had revealed extensive rot in the beams under the ground floor.
6
猪排会腐烂，给糟蹋掉。
zhū pái huì fǔ làn， ， gěi zāo tà。
The chops will fester and go to waste.
7
天上罩满了灰白的薄云, 同腐烂的尸体似的沉沉的盖在那里.
tiān shàng zhào mǎn le huī bái de báo yún, , tóng fǔ làn de shī tǐ sì de chén chén de gài zài nà.
Overhead, grayish - white clouds covered the sky, piling up heavily like decaying corpses.
8
房顶的一角塌了下来，那里的天花板横梁已经腐烂断裂了。
fáng dǐng de yī jiǎo tā le xià lái， ， nà lǐ de tiān huā bǎn héng liáng yǐ jīng fǔ làn duàn liè。
The roof sagged at one corner, where the ceiling beams had snapped with rot.
Exercise 1 of 1
Reorder the Sentence
an overpowering stench of rotting fish
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Cultural Notes for 腐烂
🏮Cultural insight
腐烂 can also be found in discussions about food safety and hygiene in Chinese culture, where there is a strong emphasis on freshness and quality in food. The concept of '腐烂' brings attention to the importance of avoiding spoiled food in culinary practices.
Frequently Asked Questions about 腐烂
Yes, 腐烂 can describe anything that decays or deteriorates, including ideas or moral values.
Yes, it can be used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when discussing issues of corruption or decay.
A common phrase is 腐烂的食物 (fǔlàn de shíwù), meaning rotten food.
