fāméi: 发霉 - To Grow Mold, To Go Moldy

• Keywords: fāméi, 发霉, grow mold Chinese, become moldy Chinese, mold in Chinese, what does famei mean, Chinese for spoiled food, mildew in Chinese, HSK 4 vocabulary
• Summary: Discover the essential Chinese term 发霉 (fāméi), meaning “to grow mold” or “to go moldy.” This guide for beginners breaks down the characters, explains its cultural significance in China's humid climates, and provides over 10 practical example sentences. Learn how to talk about spoiled food, damp clothes, and even the feeling of being stuck indoors for too long, all while avoiding common mistakes.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): fā méi
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To become covered with or affected by mold or mildew.
• In a Nutshell: 发霉 (fāméi) is the direct and common way to say that something is growing mold. It's a very literal term used to describe the fuzzy, often green or black substance that appears on food, clothing, or damp surfaces. Think of the bread you forgot on the counter or the wall of a steamy bathroom—that's 发霉.

• 发 (fā): This character means “to emit,” “to develop,” or “to start.” In this context, it signifies the beginning or development of a process. Think of it as the “onset” of something, like in `发烧 (fāshāo)`, to develop a fever.
• 霉 (méi): This character means “mold” or “mildew.” The top radical `雨 (yǔ)` means “rain,” which points to the damp, moist conditions necessary for mold to grow. The bottom part `每 (měi)` primarily provides the sound.
• Together, 发 (fā) + 霉 (méi) literally means “to develop mold.” The logic is straightforward and easy for learners to remember.

While “mold” is a universal concept, the term 发霉 (fāméi) holds particular weight in many parts of China due to climate. Southern China, for instance, experiences an extremely humid and rainy season called the 梅雨 (méiyǔ), or “plum rain season.” During this time, the air is so saturated with moisture that it's a constant battle to prevent things from getting 发霉. Clothes won't dry, leather goods develop spots, and food spoils very quickly. This makes 发霉 a common, everyday complaint and concern, far more so than in many drier Western climates where mold is often confined to forgotten leftovers in the fridge. Interestingly, the 霉 (méi) in 发霉 is a homophone for the 梅 (méi) in 梅雨 (méiyǔ). While the characters are different (mold vs. plum), the shared sound creates a strong cultural and linguistic link: the “plum rain” season is famously the “moldy” season. Metaphorically, 发霉 can also describe a person who has been inactive or stuck indoors for too long, feeling stagnant and listless. This usage is informal and carries a slightly humorous, self-deprecating tone.

发霉 (fāméi) is a common, high-frequency word used in everyday conversation. Its connotation is always negative.

• Literal Usage (Food, Objects, Places): This is the most common use. It's used to describe the physical state of something developing mold.
  • e.g., “The bread has gone moldy.” (面包发霉了。)
  • e.g., “My clothes are getting mildewy.” (我的衣服发霉了。)
• Metaphorical Usage (Feeling Stagnant): This is an informal and vivid way to describe the feeling of being cooped up or inactive. It's like saying, “I'm going to grow moss if I don't get out.”
  • e.g., “I've been home for a week, I feel like I'm about to go moldy.” (我在家待了一个星期，感觉快要发霉了。)

• Example 1:
  • 我忘了吃这个面包，现在它发霉了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ wàngle chī zhège miànbāo, xiànzài tā fāméi le.
  • English: I forgot to eat this bread, and now it has gone moldy.
  • Analysis: A classic, straightforward example. The particle `了 (le)` indicates a completed change of state—the bread wasn't moldy before, but it is now.
• Example 2:
  • 这里太潮湿了，墙角都开始发霉了。
  • Pinyin: Zhèlǐ tài cháoshī le, qiángjiǎo dōu kāishǐ fāméi le.
  • English: It's too humid here; the corners of the walls have started to grow mold.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows 发霉 being used for a part of a building. `开始 (kāishǐ)` means “to start,” emphasizing the beginning of the process.
• Example 3:
  • 你快把水果吃掉，不然会发霉的。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ kuài bǎ shuǐguǒ chī diào, bùrán huì fāméi de.
  • English: You should eat the fruit quickly, otherwise it will go moldy.
  • Analysis: A common warning. `会…的 (huì…de)` is a structure used to express future certainty or probability.
• Example 4:
  • 这件皮夹克因为放在柜子里太久而发霉了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiàn pí jiākè yīnwèi fàng zài guìzi lǐ tài jiǔ ér fāméi le.
  • English: This leather jacket got moldy because it was left in the closet for too long.
  • Analysis: `因为…而… (yīnwèi…ér…)` is a useful structure for explaining cause and effect.
• Example 5:
  • 我闻到一股发霉的味道，是不是有什么东西坏了？
  • Pinyin: Wǒ wén dào yī gǔ fāméi de wèidào, shì bùshì yǒu shé me dōngxī huàile?
  • English: I smell a moldy odor, did something go bad?
  • Analysis: Here, 发霉 is used as an adjective to describe `味道 (wèidào)`, meaning “smell” or “odor.” The `的 (de)` connects them.
• Example 6:
  • 如果你整天待在家里，你真的会发霉的！
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ zhěng tiān dài zài jiālǐ, nǐ zhēn de huì fāméi de!
  • English: If you stay at home all day, you will really go moldy!
  • Analysis: This is the metaphorical usage. It's an exaggeration used to encourage someone to go out and be more active.
• Example 7:
  • 梅雨季节的时候，东西特别容易发霉。
  • Pinyin: Méiyǔ jìjié de shíhòu, dōngxī tèbié róngyì fāméi.
  • English: During the plum rain season, things go moldy especially easily.
  • Analysis: This directly links the term to the cultural context of the `梅雨 (méiyǔ)` season.
• Example 8:
  • 这块奶酪发霉了，还能吃吗？
  • Pinyin: Zhè kuài nǎilào fāméi le, hái néng chī ma?
  • English: This piece of cheese has gone moldy, can it still be eaten?
  • Analysis: A practical question. While some cheese mold is intentional (like blue cheese), this question refers to unintentional spoilage.
• Example 9:
  • 为了防止食物发霉，你应该把它放在冰箱里。
  • Pinyin: Wèile fángzhǐ shíwù fāméi, nǐ yīnggāi bǎ tā fàng zài bīngxiāng lǐ.
  • English: To prevent food from getting moldy, you should put it in the refrigerator.
  • Analysis: `为了 (wèile)` means “in order to,” and `防止 (fángzhǐ)` means “to prevent.” This is a great sentence pattern for giving advice.
• Example 10:
  • 我感觉我的思想快要发霉了，我需要读点新书。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ gǎnjué wǒ de sīxiǎng kuàiyào fāméi le, wǒ xūyào dú diǎn xīn shū.
  • English: I feel like my mind is about to get moldy; I need to read some new books.
  • Analysis: A more advanced metaphorical use, extending the idea of stagnation from physical inactivity to mental inactivity.

• 发霉 (fāméi) vs. 腐烂 (fǔlàn): These terms are not interchangeable.
  • 发霉 specifically refers to the growth of mold or mildew (a fuzzy surface). Bread, cheese, and damp walls 发霉.
  • 腐烂 (fǔlàn) means “to rot” or “to decay” in a more general sense, often involving decomposition and becoming soft and mushy. An apple or a dead tree in the forest would 腐烂. While a rotting apple might also grow mold, 腐烂 describes the overall decay.
• 发霉 (fāméi) vs. 变质 (biànzhì):
  • 变质 (biànzhì) is a much broader term meaning “to go bad” or “to spoil.” Milk can 变质 (it sours), but it doesn't 发霉. Meat can 变质 (it rots), but it doesn't usually 发霉. 发霉 is just one specific way something can 变质.
• Common Mistake: Applying to Inanimate Objects that Don't Mold:
  • English speakers might be tempted to use 发霉 for any kind of decay, but it's specific to biological growth. For metal, the correct term is `生锈 (shēngxiù)`, to rust.
  • Incorrect: `我的自行车发霉了。` (Wǒ de zìxíngchē fāméi le.)
  • Correct: `我的自行车生锈了。` (Wǒ de zìxíngchē shēngxiù le.)

• 腐烂 (fǔlàn) - To rot, to decay. More general than `发霉`, describing decomposition.
• 变质 (biànzhì) - To go bad, to spoil. The broadest term for food becoming unfit to eat.
• 潮湿 (cháoshī) - Humid, damp. The environmental condition that causes things to `发霉`.
• 梅雨 (méiyǔ) - Plum rain season. A very humid season in East Asia strongly associated with things getting `发霉`.
• 细菌 (xìjūn) - Bacteria, germs. The microorganisms that cause food to spoil.
• 防腐剂 (fángfǔjì) - Preservative. A substance used to prevent food from spoiling or `发霉`.
• 生锈 (shēngxiù) - To rust. The form of corrosion specific to iron or steel; the “decay” equivalent for metal.
• 新鲜 (xīnxiān) - Fresh. The antonym of spoiled or moldy.