空气质量 (kōng qì zhì liàng)

noun HSK 5

Traditional 空氣質量

kōng qì zhì liàng

air quality

Meaning

空气质量 refers to the condition or standard of the air in a particular environment, typically measuring the presence of pollutants, particulate matter, and other substances that affect health and visibility. It has become an increasingly important topic in modern China due to urbanization and industrial development.

Usage

This term is commonly used in weather reports, environmental discussions, and health contexts. Chinese people frequently check air quality indexes (AQI) through apps and news before planning outdoor activities. The phrase is often followed by descriptive words like 良好 (good), 差 (poor), or 优秀 (excellent).

Examples

01
今天的空气质量很差，最好不要出去运动。
Jīn tiān de kōng qì zhì liàng hěn chà, zuì hǎo bù yào chū qù yùn dòng.
Today's air quality is very poor; it's best not to go out and exercise.
02
政府正在采取措施改善城市的空气质量。
Zhèng fǔ zhèng zài cǎi qǔ cuò shī gǎi shàn chéng shì de kōng qì zhì liàng.
The government is taking measures to improve the city's air quality.

Characters

Common collocations

空气质量指数
kōng qì zhì liàng zhǐ shù
Air Quality Index (AQI)
改善空气质量
gǎi shàn kōng qì zhì liàng
to improve air quality
监测空气质量
jiān cè kōng qì zhì liàng
to monitor air quality
空气质量良好
kōng qì zhì liàng liáng hǎo
air quality is good

Origin

This is a modern compound combining 空气 (air) with 质量 (quality). The term became widely used in the late 20th century as environmental awareness grew in China.