To rot or go bad (of food or organic matter); to decay or spoil so that it becomes inedible or smelly.
この魚はもう腐っているから、食べないでください。
This fish has already gone bad, so please don't eat it.
牛乳を常温で放置しておくとすぐに腐ることがある。
If you leave milk at room temperature, it can spoil quickly.
果物を冷蔵庫に入れ忘れて、全部腐らせてしまった。
I forgot to put the fruit in the fridge and ended up letting it all go bad.
夏は食品が腐りやすいので注意が必要だ。
In summer food spoils easily, so you need to be careful.
To corrode, weather, or crumble (of materials like metal or wood) due to exposure or decay.
海辺の鉄のフェンスが潮風で腐ってしまった。
The iron fence by the sea has corroded from the sea breeze.
長年の雨で屋根の木が腐って穴が開いた。
Years of rain caused the roof's wood to rot and a hole formed.
To become blunt, weakened, or less effective from lack of use or practice (skills or tools).
長い間ピアノを弾かなかったから、指の動きが腐ってしまった。
I hadn't played the piano for a long time, so my finger dexterity got rusty.
毎日研がないと包丁は切れ味が腐る。
If you don't sharpen it regularly, a knife's edge will lose its sharpness.
To become depraved or morally corrupt; to degenerate ethically or behave corruptly.
長年の権力と金でその政治家は完全に腐ってしまった。
That politician was completely corrupted by power and money over the years.
組織が利権にまみれて腐っていった。
The organization became corrupt, soaked in vested interests.
To be depressed, dispirited, or feel down (often used in expressions like 気が腐る).
試験に落ちて気が腐った。
I failed the exam and felt really down.
仕事がうまくいかず、最近気分が腐っている。
Work hasn't been going well, and lately I've been feeling dispirited.
A Kansai dialect auxiliary (usually written in kana) attached to the -masu stem of a verb to express contempt or scorn about someone's action (similar to やがる).
ふざけくさるな、真面目にやれよ。
Don't be messing around like that — take it seriously.
客の前であんな態度をとりくさるとは許せない。
I can't forgive him for taking such an attitude in front of customers.
Archaic: to lose a bet (an old usage rarely used in modern Japanese).
彼は賭場で大いに腐ったと記録にある。
Records say he lost heavily at the gambling house.
Archaic: to become drenched or sopping wet (rarely used in modern language).
夕立に腐って帰る旅人の姿が描かれている。
A traveler drenched by the sudden shower is depicted returning home.