adjective / verb HSK 4
dirty · filthy · to pollute · to contaminate · to defile
Meaning
污 means dirty, filthy, or impure, both literally (physical dirt) and figuratively (moral corruption). As a verb, it means to pollute, stain, or contaminate something. It commonly appears in compounds related to pollution and cleanliness.
Usage
污 is frequently used in compound words like 污染 (pollution) and 污水 (sewage). In modern internet slang, 污 can also mean 'dirty-minded' or refer to sexual innuendo. The standalone character is less common in everyday speech than its compounds.
Examples
- 01这条河被工厂污染了。.This river has been polluted by the factory.
- 02他的衣服上有污迹。.There are stains on his clothes.
Common collocations
- 污染环境to pollute the environment
- 污水处理sewage treatment
- 污迹stain, dirty mark
- 贪污corruption, embezzlement
Antonyms
Origin
The character 污 combines the water radical 氵(water) with 于, suggesting contaminated or impure water as the original meaning.