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Kotomora

堕

degenerate, descend to, lapse into

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 5,000Strokes12

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

Explore all words using 堕 →

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.