dù

蠹

Character · Noun · Verb

moth; woodworm; to bore through

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 5 examples
1.

noun

insect that bores into books or wood; moth; woodworm

literary

A literary term for pests that bore into and damage paper, books, or wooden objects. Often used metaphorically for parasitic or destructive elements.

Zhè这
xiē些
gǔ古
shū书
bèi被
dù蠹
chóng虫
zhù蛀
shí蚀
de得
lì厉
hai害
 。

These ancient books have been severely damaged by bookworms.

Hù户
shū枢
bù不
dù蠹
 ，
liú流
shuǐ水
bù不
fǔ腐
 。

A door hinge never gets worm-eaten, and flowing water never stagnates.

Show 1 more example
Tā他
shì是
gè个
shū书
dù蠹
 ，
zhěng整
tiān天
pào泡
zài在
tú图
shū书
guǎn馆
lǐ里
 。

He is a bookworm, spending all day in the library.

2.

verb

to bore through; to eat away; to corrode

literary

Refers to the action of pests damaging materials, or metaphorically, the gradual erosion or corruption of something.

Bái白
yǐ蚁
dù蠹
kōng空
le了
fáng房
liáng梁
 。

Termites have hollowed out the roof beam.

Tān贪
fǔ腐
dù蠹
shí蚀
zhe着
guó国
jiā家
de的
gēn根
jī基
 。

Corruption is eating away at the foundation of the nation.