caam4 sik6蠶食蚕食

Jyutpingcaam4 sik6

Yalechàahm sihk

動詞Uncommon

Definition

To nibble away; to encroach upon or erode gradually, like a silkworm eating mulberry leaves.

writtenother

How it's used

Evokes a sense of gradual, relentless, and often invisible loss. It is almost exclusively used in formal or journalistic contexts to describe abstract concepts like territory, rights, or confidence rather than physical objects. The imagery of a silkworm eating leaves highlights the quiet, steady nature of the encroachment.

Examples

daai6大coi4財tyun4團zing3正caam4蠶sik6食gan2緊siu2小dim3店ge3嘅saang1生cyun4存hung1空gaan1間。

Large corporations are encroaching on the survival space of small shops.

keoi5佢dei2哋ge3嘅kyun4權lik6力hai6係mai6咪maan6慢maan2慢caam4蠶sik6食gan2緊ni1呢go3個zai3制dou6度？

Are their powers slowly eroding this system?

Common phrases

caam4蠶sik6食king4鯨tan1吞

to nibble away and swallow up (gradual vs. sudden encroachment)

Common mistake

Avoid using this to describe literal eating or physical destruction by insects, as the term is strictly metaphorical. It implies a process that is difficult to notice until a significant portion has already been lost.