Japanese symbol for “rot”

腐食

ふしょく

Romaji: fushoku

rot; decay; erosion

In Japanese, rot is 腐食, read ふしょく (fushoku).

Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.

Meanings

n, vi, vs rot; decay; erosion
n, vi, vs corrosion; etching; rust
n saprophagy (biol)

Written forms: 腐食、腐蝕. Readings: ふしょく.

Kanji and stroke order

腐

rot, decay, sour

on: フ
kun: くさ.る、-くさ.る、くさ.れる、くさ.れ

14 strokes · JLPT 1

食

eat, food

on: ショク、ジキ
kun: く.う、く.らう、た.べる、は.む

9 strokes · JLPT 4

Other Japanese words for “rot”

Word	Reading	Meaning
腐る	くさる kusaru	to rot; to go bad; to decay
朽ちる	くちる kuchiru	to rot; to decay
腐朽	ふきゅう fukyuu	decay; deterioration; rot
腐れる	くされる kusareru	to spoil; to rot; to corrode
膿	うみ umi	corruption; rot; evils

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
腐敗	ふはい fuhai	decomposition; putrefaction; putrescence
豆腐	とうふ toufu	tofu; bean curd; beancurd
腐る	くさる kusaru	to rot; to go bad; to decay
陳腐	ちんぷ chinpu	stale; hackneyed; clichéd
腐り	くさり kusari	rottenness; decay; corruption
食事	しょくじ shokuji	meal (e.g. lunch, dinner)
食品	しょくひん shokuhin	food; food products; foodstuffs
食べ物	たべもの tabemono	food