堕
degenerate, descend to, lapse into
Readings
On'yomi
- ダ
Kun'yomi
- お.ちる
- くず.す
- くず.れる
Meaning
堕 centers on a downward moral or physical fall: degenerating, lapsing into a worse state, or descending to a lower level.
Most common words using 堕
- 堕ちるおちる
to decline (of morals, character, etc.); to become vulgar (e.g. of a conversation); to stoop (to); to sink (so low)
- 堕落だらくN1
depravity; corruption; degradation
- 堕胎だたい
abortion; feticide
- 自堕落じだらく
self-indulgent; undisciplined; slovenly; debauched; negligent
- 堕するだする
to degenerate; to lapse into
- 人間の堕落にんげんのだらく
the Fall of Man; the Fall
- 堕すだす
to degenerate; to lapse into
- 堕ろすおろす
to abort (a fetus)
- 堕天使だてんし
fallen angel (esp. Lucifer)
- 堕獄だごく
going to hell; falling into hell
- 堕罪だざい
sinking into sin
- 堕胎医だたいい
doctor who performs abortions; abortion provider
- 堕胎罪だたいざい
illegal abortion
- 堕胎薬だたいやく
abortifacient; abortive drug
- 堕落坊主だらくぼうず
apostate priest
- 堕落腐敗だらくふはい
debasement; corruption; degradation
- 腐敗堕落ふはいだらく
debasement; corruption; degradation
- 落堕らくだ
marrying (of a monk)
- 闇堕ちやみおち
joining the dark side; joining the forces of evil
Study
Etymology
堕 is the modern simplified form of 墮. The older form combines 土 (earth) with 陏, which likely contributed the sound and the idea of falling or collapsing downward.
Meaning mnemonic
The top 陏 looks like a crumbling structure, and the bottom 土 is the ground. Picture something degenerating and falling to the earth.
Reading mnemonic
For ダ, imagine a degenerate character named Da falling to the ground: Da -> ダ, and his lapse into ruin is complete.