Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 循環再造 / 循环再造 | xúnhuán zàizào |
| 回收 | huíshōu |
The term 回收 is used to describe the process of breaking down and reusing component materials. In formal or environmental contexts, the compound term 回收利用 is frequently used to describe the act of recycling materials for further utility.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 回收 consists of 回 (to return) and 收 (to collect/receive).
Which one should you use?
回收 is the standard term for recycling materials like paper, plastic or metal, whereas 循環再造 / 循环再造 is more technical and refers to the process of circular manufacturing or upcycling.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Singapore, recycle is known as 回收利用.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding 站 (station) to 回收 creates the term for a recycling station or a recycling bin.
How do you pronounce it?
huíshōu
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers should note that 回收 can also mean 'to recover' or 'to collect' in a general sense (like collecting debts or recovering lost items), not just in the context of environmental recycling.
Did you know?
- In Chinese internet slang, 回收 is sometimes used metaphorically to describe 'picking up' a relationship or returning to an ex-partner.
- The technical term 循環再造 uses 循環, which is the same word used for 'blood circulation' in the human body.
- The word 收 in 回收 is also the root for 'harvest'. Thus, the phrase can be poetically seen as 'harvesting' materials that have already been used.
Examples in context
- 我们应该尽我们最大的努力减少塑料包装的使用，并回收所有的塑料废物。We must make the utmost effort to reduce the use of plastic packaging, and also to recycle all waste plastic.This sentence is useful for learning how to use 回收 when discussing the reduction of plastic waste.Tatoeba #736853 by GlossaMatik, translation #736854 by eastasiastudent
- 你们这里有纸张回收吗？Do you have paper recycling here?
- 请多回收可回收物品。Please recycle more recyclable items.
- 请把这些旧报纸拿去回收。Qǐng bǎ zhèxiē jiù bàozhǐ ná qù huíshōu.Please take these old newspapers to be recycled.
- 这个地方可以回收废旧电池。Zhège dìfāng kěyǐ huíshōu fèijiù diànchí.This place can recycle old batteries.
Example conversation
Two roommates are cleaning up their apartment.
- 雨婷 Yuting浩然，这些空瓶子可以回收吗？Hàorán, zhèxiē kōng píngzi kěyǐ huíshōu ma?Haoran, can these empty bottles be recycled?
- 浩然 Haoran可以，把它们放在回收箱里吧。Kěyǐ, bǎ tāmen fàng zài huíshōu xiāng lǐ ba.Yes, put them in the recycling bin.
- 雨婷 Yuting那个纸箱也要回收吗？Nàge zhǐxiāng yě yào huíshōu ma?Should that cardboard box be recycled too?
- 浩然 Haoran是的，我们应该好好回收废品。Shì de, wǒmen yīnggāi hǎohǎo huíshōu fèipǐn.Yes, we should recycle waste properly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “recycle” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
