Kanji: 朽 (Decay/Rot)
The kanji 朽 means "to decay," "to rot," "to crumble," or metaphorically, "to be forgotten." It describes the natural process of organic matter breaking down over time.
Key Reading:
Kun-yomi (Japanese reading): く（ちる）(kuchiru)
On-yomi (Sino-Japanese reading): キュウ (kyū)
Common Words & Usage:
朽ちる (kuchiru) - Verb. To decay, to rot.
不朽 (fukyū) - Noun. Imperishability, immortality (e.g., of a reputation).
老朽 (rōkyū) - Noun. Decay from age, obsolescence.
朽ち果てる (kuchi-hateru) - Verb. To rot away completely.
Example Sentence:
Japanese: 森の中には朽ちた木がたくさんあった。
Romaji: Mori no naka ni wa kuchita ki ga takusan atta.
English: There were many decayed trees in the forest.
Learning the correct stroke order for kanji like 朽 is essential for balanced, legible Japanese handwriting and is a fundamental part of mastering kanji writing.