Meaning
This term combines 循环 (cycle, circulate) with 利用 (to utilize, make use of) to describe the process of recycling or reusing materials. It emphasizes the circular nature of taking used materials and putting them back into productive use rather than discarding them as waste.
Usage
Commonly used in environmental and sustainability contexts. This is the standard formal term for recycling in Mandarin Chinese. You'll see it on recycling bins, in environmental campaigns, and in news articles about waste management. It can be used as both a verb (to recycle) and as a noun phrase (recycling).
Examples
- 01我们应该循环利用塑料瓶和纸张。.We should recycle plastic bottles and paper.
- 02这些材料可以循环利用，不要扔掉。, .These materials can be recycled, don't throw them away.
Characters
Common collocations
- 循环利用资源to recycle resources
- 可循环利用recyclable
- 循环利用率recycling rate
Antonyms
Origin
The term builds on 循环 (circulation, cycle) which literally means 'following in a circle' and 利用 (to utilize), creating the meaning of 'using in a circular manner' or returning materials to productive use.