Skip to content
道Nihongo Path

Word 2064 of 4449

Save Sign in to track

蝕む

むしばむ

to eat away, to undermine

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. 病が体を蝕む。

    やまいがからだをむしばむ。

    Disease eats away at the body.

  2. 不安が少しずつ心を蝕んでいった。

    ふあんがすこしずつこころをむしばんでいった。

    Anxiety gradually ate away at his mind.

  3. 汚職が組織を蝕んでいる。

    おしょくがそしきをむしばんでいる。

    Corruption is eating into the organisation.

Common patterns

体を蝕む
to eat away at the body
心を蝕む
to gnaw at the mind
徐々に蝕む
to undermine little by little

Memory tip

The kanji contains 虫, an insect gnawing from the inside, and that is exactly the nuance: slow, hidden damage by disease, anxiety or corruption. It is never used for sudden destruction.

Kanji in this word

  • 蝕Not in the N5–N1 kanji lists

Quick check

1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5

What does 蝕む mean?