noun HSK 5
pǐn
drug · narcotic · illegal drug

Meaning

毒品 refers to illegal drugs or narcotics that are harmful and addictive. The word combines 毒 (poison/toxin) and 品 (product/item), literally meaning 'poisonous products.' It is a serious legal and social term used in discussions about drug abuse, trafficking, and law enforcement.

Usage

This is a formal term used in legal contexts, news reports, and serious discussions about illegal substances. It specifically refers to illicit drugs like heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, etc., not to prescription medications (which are called 药品 yào pǐn). Native speakers use this word when discussing drug-related crimes, addiction problems, or anti-drug campaigns.

Examples

  1. 01
    警方查获了一批走私毒品
    Jǐng fāng chá huò le zǒu pǐn.
    The police seized a batch of smuggled drugs.
  2. 02
    我们应该教育青少年远离毒品
    men yīng gāi jiào qīng shào nián yuǎn pǐn.
    We should educate young people to stay away from drugs.

Characters

Measure words

  • zhǒng一种毒品
  • 一批毒品

Common collocations

  • 毒品交易
    pǐn jiāo
    drug trafficking/dealing
  • 毒品犯罪
    pǐn fàn zuì
    drug-related crime
  • 打击毒品
    pǐn
    to crack down on drugs
  • 远离毒品
    yuǎn pǐn
    to stay away from drugs

Origin

The compound combines 毒 (poison) with 品 (product/goods), creating a term that literally means 'poisonous products.' This straightforward construction clearly conveys the harmful nature of these substances.

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