蝕む・虫食む|むしばむmushibamu[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
蝕む蝕む is the most common and standard written form; it is the usual choice for writing this word.
虫食むYou will seldom see 虫食む in writing; it is a less common variant of 蝕む, not the form beginners should normally choose.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbto be worm-eaten; to be eaten by worms
- godan verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbto affect adversely; to spoil; to ruin; to undermine; to gnaw at (one's heart, body, etc.); to eat into; to destroy
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 蝕む（むしばむ） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 蝕みます（むしばみます） |
| Negative (nai) | 蝕まない（むしばまない） |
| polite (masen) | 蝕みません（むしばみません） |
| classical zu / nu | 蝕まず・蝕まぬ（むしばまず・むしばまぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 蝕んだ（むしばんだ） |
| polite (mashita) | 蝕みました（むしばみました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 蝕まなかった（むしばまなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 蝕みませんでした（むしばみませんでした） |
| Te form | 蝕んで（むしばんで） |
| Potential | 蝕める（むしばめる） |
| Passive | 蝕まれる（むしばまれる） |
| Causative | 蝕ませる（むしばませる） |
| Causative passive | 蝕ませられる・蝕まされる（むしばませられる・むしばまされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 蝕めば（むしばめば） |
| tara | 蝕んだら（むしばんだら） |
| Volitional | 蝕もう（むしばもう） |
| polite (mashou) | 蝕みましょう（むしばみましょう） |
| Imperative | 蝕め（むしばめ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Related冒すおかすWrittenWritten/formal prose. Means to harm or invade, focusing on disease attacking the body or on braving a risk; unlike 「蝕む」, it lacks the sense of gradual erosion.
- Related障るさわるNeutralNeutral. To be harmful, focusing on hindering the body or one's work, as in 「体に障る」; 「蝕む」 stresses gradual, bit-by-bit erosion.
- Antonym養うやしなうNeutralNeutral. To raise and support, to nourish and sustain — the opposite of 「蝕む」, which wears things away bit by bit.
- Antonym築くきずくNeutralNeutral. To build up or establish something bit by bit — the opposite of 「蝕む」, which slowly erodes and destroys.
Use 「蝕む」 for worm-eaten things or the gradual erosion of body, mind, or society, as in 「病に蝕まれる」「心を蝕む」. For disease attacking the body, say 「冒す」; for simply being harmful, 「障る」. 「養う」 and 「築く」 are opposites.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
