fall · degenerate

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 堕 is associated with falling or descending into a worse state; its on-reading is だ.
• Basic usage: 堕落(だらく) means corruption or moral decline, while 堕する(だする) means to degenerate or descend.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Personal corruption and an activity deteriorating
  • In the example, 堕落していく means that the character gradually becomes corrupt after gaining power. The expression describes losing ideals or declining morally.
  • 悪口に堕する means degenerating into insults. The verb can describe an activity losing quality, as when discussion becomes insults or practice becomes mere repetition.