TSUMUGU · TOCFL 4 (est.) · 字
衰
ㄕㄨㄞ · shuāi
verb — to decline, weaken
字源 FORM — what the parts do
衰形a straw rain-cloak, strands hanging — the graph 蓑 later reclaimed
The graph drew a straw rain-cloak, strands hanging down. "Decline" borrowed it and never gave it back — the cloak had to grow a grass hat (蓑) to stay itself.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
舊蓑衣，草一條一條掉——越披越薄。
The old straw cloak sheds strand after strand — thinner each wearing.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)蓑衣——今寫作蓑— the rain-cloak — now written 蓑
→衰弱、衰退— to weaken, decline常用
⇒衰老、衰落— aging; a falling-off
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension
例 · Examples
1爺爺的身體衰弱了。衰弱、衰退
Grandpa's strength has faded.
2年紀大了，記憶力會衰退。衰弱、衰退
Memory ebbs with age.
3經濟衰退，工作不好找。衰弱、衰退
Recession — jobs are scarce.
4這個品牌慢慢衰落了。衰老、衰落
The brand slid slowly downhill.
5他最近很衰Taiwan colloquial — unlucky，什麼都不順。
He's been jinxed lately — nothing goes right.
Underlined 衰 is this entry; dotted words carry a gloss — hold ⇧ Shift and hover, or tap.
關 · Related
蓑suōthe cloak, reclaimed under grass哀āithe lookalike — 口 inside, grief
演 · Evolution
小篆還看得出蓑衣；借義站穩後，加艹另寫本字——借走的痕跡留在字形裡。
The cloak is visible in seal forms; once the loan settled, 艹 was added to write the original word — the borrowing left a paper trail.