Meaning
混浊 describes water, liquid, or air that is cloudy, unclear, or murky due to suspended particles or impurities. It can also be used metaphorically to describe unclear thinking or a confused mental state. The word combines the meanings of 'mixed/confused' (混) and 'muddy/turbid' (浊).
Usage
Most commonly used to describe physical substances like water, air, or liquids that lack clarity. In literary or formal contexts, it can describe mental confusion or moral murkiness. Often contrasted with 清澈 (clear). Frequently appears in environmental, scientific, or descriptive writing.
Examples
- 01这条河的水很混浊，不能直接饮用。, .The water in this river is very muddy and cannot be drunk directly.
- 02由于污染，城市的空气变得越来越混浊。, .Due to pollution, the city's air has become increasingly murky.
Characters
Common collocations
- 混浊的河水muddy river water
- 空气混浊murky air
- 变得混浊to become turbid/murky
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters relate to impurity and lack of clarity. 浊 contains the water radical 氵, indicating its original association with muddy water. The combination emphasizes the idea of something being unclear or contaminated.