How to Write 蛀 (zhù) — Meaning “To bore (by insects) / To decay”

Imagine a "main" insect (主 + 虫) that is the "master" of destruction, eating away at wood or teeth. This picture helps you recall that 蛀 means boring or decay caused by bugs.

Write the left radical 虫 narrower and slightly taller, with its bottom horizontal aligning with the lower part of 主 on the right. Common mistakes include making the 虫 too wide or misplacing the dot inside 虫.

蛀 (zhù) uses 主 on the right and means boring or decay, while 虹 (hóng) uses 工 and means rainbow. 虺 (huǐ) uses 兀 and refers to a type of snake—none of them relate to insects boring like 蛀 does.

You most often see 蛀 in dental terms like 蛀牙 (cavity/tooth decay) or in pest contexts like 蛀虫 (borer/termite). It is common in health warnings and pest control discussions, for example, advising "预防蛀牙" (prevent cavities).

Common words containing 蛀 include: 蛀牙 (zhù yá) — Cavity / Tooth decay; 蛀虫 (zhù chóng) — Borer / Termite / Moth; 被蛀 (bèi zhù) — To be moth-eaten.