腐

Phono-semantic compound:

肉 (고기 육) — semantic component, indicating relation to flesh or organic matter.

府 (마을 부) — phonetic component, giving the sound fǔ / bu.

Thus, 腐 originally depicts the rotting of flesh — meat (肉) inside a structure (府), symbolizing the spoiling or decay of stored organic matter.

In Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字):

「腐，朽也。从肉，府聲。」

“腐 means to decay; composed of 肉 (‘flesh’) and phonetic 府 (‘fǔ’).”

Semantic evolution:

Literal (physical): decay, rot, spoilage (especially of meat or food).

Extended (moral/social): moral corruption, depravity (腐敗).

Metaphorical: to become weak, effeminate, or complacent (腐儒).

Neutral/culinary: used in compounds like 豆腐 and 油腐 for fermented or softened foods.

腐敗 (부패) — corruption; decay; putrefaction

腐食 (부식) — corrosion; also food spoilage

腐朽 (부후) — to decay, to moulder away

豆腐 (두부) — tofu; bean curd

油腐 (유부) — fried tofu

腐儒 (부유) — pedantic, stagnant scholar (“decayed Confucian”)

腐心 (부심) — to be deeply worried or vexed

腐化 (부화) — moral degeneration or corruption

Kangxi Dictionary (康熙字典, vol. 1047):

「腐，朽也；又敗也，柔也。」

“腐 means to decay; also to perish or to become soft.”

Book of Documents (書經 · 周官):

「其德不腐。」

“His virtue does not decay” — 腐 used metaphorically for moral incorruption.

Mencius (孟子 · 公孫丑下):

「人無恒產而有恒心者，惟士為能。若民則無恒產，因無恒心，苟無恒心，放辟邪侈，無不為已，是以生民之道必先富之。富而教之，是故君子不教而殺謂之虐，不戒視成謂之暴，慢其民而後用之，謂之賊。此三者，天下之大害也。出於《詩》曰：‘赫赫師尹，民具爾瞻。’」

"Those without permanent property yet possessing steadfast resolve are only possible among scholars. As for the common people, lacking permanent property, they consequently lack steadfast resolve. Without steadfast resolve, they will indulge in reckless excess and depravity, sparing nothing for their own ends. Therefore, the path to nurturing the people must first enrich them. Enrich them, then educate them. Therefore, a noble person who kills without teaching is called cruel; one who demands results without warning is called violent; one who treats the people with contempt before employing them is called a thief. These three are the greatest evils in the world. As the Book of Songs says: ‘O illustrious Minister Yin, the people all look to you'."

(later commentaries gloss “腐” as “to corrupt” in moral context — 德腐, decay of virtue).

Zhuangzi (莊子 · 養生主篇):

「不以物挫志，不以身腐名。」

“He does not let material things dull his will, nor allow his body to rot his reputation” — 腐 symbolizes bodily decay.

Cultural and philosophical notes:

In Confucian discourse, 腐 often symbolizes the decay of virtue or principles (德腐).

In Daoist texts, it evokes the natural process of decay and renewal, aligning with the cycle of life and transformation.

In culinary contexts, 腐 carries a neutral or even positive connotation — controlled fermentation or softening, as in tofu (豆腐).

Thus, the character spans the full range from biological decay to moral allegory, and even creative transformation in gastronomy.