环境
huánjìng
The English word "environment" is translated into Chinese as 环境 (huánjìng).
环境 (huánjìng) is the most common and standard term in Mandarin Chinese for "environment," referring to the natural world or an ecosystem. It can be used in contexts like environmental protection, which is expressed as 环境保护 (huánjìng bǎohù).
Meaning: natural world or ecosystem (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 环境 is composed of 环 (huán), meaning ring or circle and 境 (jìng), meaning boundary, territory or place.
Which one should you use?
While 环境 is the standard term, more specific formal variations exist: 自然环境 (zìrán huánjìng) is used to specify the "natural environment," and 生态环境 (shēngtài huánjìng) is used to emphasize ecological aspects. Additionally, the term 生态 (shēngtài) can be used on its own to mean "ecology."
How do you pronounce it?
huánjìng
Did you know?
- The character 境 (jìng) is used in the word 境界 (jìngjiè), which describes a specific level of spiritual or mental attainment.
- Chinese makes a specific distinction between the 'natural environment' 自然环境 and the 'human environment' 人文环境, which refers to the cultural and intellectual surroundings.
- The character 环 (huán) in 环境 also appears in the terms for 'recycling' and 'circular economy', linking the environment to the concept of a loop.
Examples in context
- 吃肉对环境不利。Eating meat is bad for the environment.This sentence shows how to describe something being bad for the environment using 环境.Tatoeba #5663594 by verdastelo9604, translation #1641536 by Spamster
- 他们的生活环境很好。They live in a good environment.This sentence demonstrates how to describe a living environment using 环境.Tatoeba #426018 by GlossaMatik, translation #426015 by FeuDRenais
- 车辆增多会影响到城市的环境。An increase in the number of cars will affect the urban environment.This sentence illustrates how urban changes can affect the environment using 环境.Tatoeba #1577372 by GlossaMatik, translation #1577401 by eastasiastudent
- 我们需要保护环境，减少污染。We need to protect the environment and reduce pollution.
- 这里的环境真美，空气清新。The environment here is beautiful, with fresh air.
- 生态环境的破坏对生物多样性造成了严重影响。The destruction of the ecological environment has had a serious impact on biodiversity.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a local park project.
- 俊杰 Junjie我们要保护自然环境。Wǒmen yào bǎohù zìrán huánjìng.We need to protect the natural environment.
- 雨婷 Yuting对，这也是为了我们的未来。Duì, zhè yě shì wèile wǒmen de wèilái.Yes, this is also for our future.
- 俊杰 Junjie雨婷，你会参加志愿者活动吗？Yǔtíng, nǐ huì cānjiā zhìyuànzhě huódòng ma?Yuting, will you participate in the volunteer activities?
- 雨婷 Yuting我会去支持俊杰的建议。Wǒ huì qù zhīchí Jùnjié de jiànyì.I will go to support Junjie's suggestion.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
