Meaning
污浊 describes something that is dirty, murky, or impure, whether referring to physical substances like water or air, or metaphorically to moral character or atmosphere. It combines 污 (dirty) with 浊 (turbid/muddy) to emphasize the degree of contamination or impurity.
Usage
This is a formal, literary term often used in written Chinese to describe polluted environments or morally corrupt situations. It's more elevated than simple 脏 (dirty) and carries connotations of both physical and moral impurity. Commonly appears in environmental discussions, news reports, and literary descriptions.
Examples
- 01这条河的河水污浊不堪，散发着难闻的气味。, .The river water is extremely turbid and gives off a foul smell.
- 02工厂排放的废气使城市的空气变得污浊。.The exhaust emissions from factories have made the city's air polluted.
Characters
Common collocations
- 污浊的空气polluted air
- 污浊不堪extremely dirty/foul
- 空气污浊the air is polluted
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters relate to impurity: 污 originally depicted water (氵) being dirtied, while 浊 combines water (氵) with 蜀, suggesting cloudy or unclear water. Together they form a compound emphasizing extreme impurity.