腐敗 and 腐食: Rot, fictional corruption, and metal corrosion
Compare fruit beginning to rot and corruption portrayed in a novel with metal corrosion. Follow the physical target, metaphor, and scope of the reported reading.
Decay or corruption named as 腐敗
腐敗 means decay or corruption. 「冷蔵庫の外に置いた果物が腐敗し始めた。」 says fruit left outside the refrigerator began to rot. 果物が names the fruit that began to rot.
「組織の腐敗を告発する小説を読んだ。」 reports reading a novel exposing corruption in an organization. 腐敗 has the figurative organizational sense, and the accusation belongs to the novel read.
Corrosion named as 腐食
腐食 means corrosion. 「海風で金属の柵が腐食していた。」 says the sea breeze had corroded a metal fence. It describes the metal’s state.
「表面の腐食を防ぐ塗料を選んだ。」 reports selecting a paint that prevents surface corrosion. Selection of paint does not report its application or completed removal of corrosion.
Read the target and the metaphor
The fruit’s 腐敗 and the metal fence’s 腐食 concern different physical targets. A broad label such as decay or damage does not turn organizational corruption into metal corrosion.
Reading the novel is distinct from verifying corruption in a real organization. Beginning to rot, reading a novel, and selecting a coating each retain the objects and scope stated in their sentences.
Does 腐敗 in 組織の腐敗を告発する小説を読んだ describe metal corrosion or organizational corruption in the novel read?
Show the answer and why
It concerns organizational corruption portrayed in the novel. Its target differs from metal 腐食, and reading the novel alone does not verify corruption in a real organization.