污染
wūrǎn
The Chinese word for pollution is 污染 (wūrǎn).
污染 is used to describe the contamination of the environment by harmful substances. It is common to pair the verb 造成 (zàochéng, to cause or result in) with 污染 to express the act of creating pollution, as in 造成污染.
Meaning: the contamination of the environment by harmful substances (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 污染 consists of two parts: 污 (wū), which means dirt or filth and 染 (rǎn), which means to dye or stain.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Cantonese dialect spoken in Guangdong, pollution is referred to as 污染.
How does it change in a sentence?
While 污染 is a noun meaning pollution, it can also function as a verb meaning to pollute.
How do you pronounce it?
wūrǎn
Did you know?
- While 'pollution' is often used for environmental science in English, using 污染 in a metaphorical sense in Chinese can also imply 'corrupting' one's eyes or ears with bad information or inappropriate content.
- The character 染 (rǎn) originally referred to the ancient art of dyeing cloth, showing how a word for a creative craft became associated with 'contamination'.
- Because 染 means 'to dye', a learner might be surprised to see that the same character is used in words for 'infection' or 'contagion' in certain medical contexts.
Examples in context
- 我们有一节关于环境污染的讲座。We had a lecture on environmental pollution.This sentence is useful for discussing a lecture regarding environmental pollution.Tatoeba #5983621 by verdastelo9604, translation #244575 by CM
- 汽车尾气在城镇里造成了严重的污染。Car exhaust causes serious pollution in towns.This sentence is useful for discussing how car exhaust causes serious pollution in towns.Tatoeba #5715189 by verdastelo9604, translation #265533 by CS
- 这意味着对利用能源、耗费资金和制造污染的空调的使用有了大幅增长。It means a huge increase in the use of air conditioning which uses energy, which costs money and creates pollution.This sentence is useful for discussing the relationship between air conditioning use and the creation of pollution.Tatoeba #727509 by GlossaMatik, translation #727474 by eastasiastudent
- 政府正在努力降低環境污染。The government is working hard to reduce environmental pollution.
- 工業發展導致了嚴重的污染。Industrial development has led to severe pollution.
- 城市的空氣質量太差了，都是因為污染。The city's air quality is terrible. It's all because of pollution.
- 我家附近的河流太臭了，污染很嚴重。The river near my house is so polluted. It smells awful.
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about the air quality in the city.
- 伟 Wei这里的空气污染真的很严重。Zhèlǐ de kōngqì wūrǎn zhēn de hěn yánzhòng.The air pollution here is really serious.
- 佳怡 Jiayi是的，我今天出门戴了口罩。Shì de, wǒ jīntiān chūmén dàile kǒuzhào.Yes, I wore a mask when I went out today.
- 伟 Wei我们需要减少污染来保护环境。Wǒmen xūyào jiǎnshǎo wūrǎn lái bǎohù huánjìng.We need to reduce pollution to protect the environment.
- 佳怡 Jiayi我完全同意你的看法，伟。Wǒ wánquán tóngyì nǐ de kànfǎ, Wěi.I completely agree with you, Wei.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pollution” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
