Polluted

This “Pollution” vocabulary set provides Chinese learners with essential vocabulary related to environmental issues. The vocabulary set includes words describing different types of pollution, their causes, and solutions. Learners can use this vocabulary set to read and understand Chinese environmental articles and documents, as well as participate effectively in discussions about environmental issues. This material is suitable for all levels, from beginners to advanced learners. Effective learning of Chinese vocabulary can be supported by online learning resources such as Chinese Online.

污染
Writing practice noun/verb L1
wū rǎn
polluted
环境污染日益严重。
huánjìng wūrǎn rìyì yánzhòng.
Environmental pollution is getting more and more serious.
Use: A very common word used to refer to pollution in general. Can be used as a noun (pollution) or a verb (to pollute).
空气污染
Writing practice noun L1
kōngqì wūrǎn
air pollution
空气污染严重影响人们的健康。
kōngqì wūrǎn yánzhòng yǐngxiǎng rénmen de jiànkāng.
Air pollution seriously affects human health.
Use: Only specific pollution is air.
水污染
Writing practice noun L1
shuǐ wū rǎn
water pollution
水污染导致水资源短缺。
shuǐ wūrǎn dǎozhì shuǐ zīyuán duǎnquē.
Water pollution leads to water resource shortage.
Use: Only specific pollution is water sources.
土壤污染
Writing practice noun L1
tǔrǎng wūrǎn
soil pollution
土壤污染会影响农作物生长。
tǔ rǎng wū rǎn huì yǐng xiǎng nóng zuò wù shēng zhǎng 。
Soil pollution will affect plant growth.
Use: Only specific pollution is soil.
噪音污染
Writing practice noun L1
zàoyīn wūrǎn
noise pollution
噪音污染让人难以忍受。
zào yīn wū rǎn ràng rén nán yǐ rěn shòu 。
Noise pollution makes people uncomfortable.
Use: Just noise pollution.
光污染
Writing practice noun L1
guāng wūrǎn
light pollution
光污染影响人们的睡眠。
guāng wūrǎn yǐngxiǎng rénmen de shuìmián 。
Light pollution affects people's sleep.
Use: Just light pollution.
垃圾
Writing practice noun L1
lājī
garbage
不要乱扔垃圾。
bù yào luàn rēng lā jī 。
Do not litter.
Use: Just general waste.
废物
Writing practice noun L1
fèi wù
waste
处理工业废物刻不容缓。
chǔ lǐ gōng yè fèi wù kè bù róng huǎn 。
Industrial waste treatment cannot be delayed.
Use: Just waste, usually from industry.
废气
Writing practice noun L1
fèi qì
exhaust
汽车排放的废气污染空气。
qì chē pái fàng de fèi qì wū rǎn kōng qì 。
Car exhaust pollutes the air.
Use: Only emissions from vehicles or industry.
废水
Writing practice noun L1
fèi shuǐ
wastewater
工厂排放的废水污染河流。
gōng chǎng pái fàng de fèi shuǐ wū rǎn hé liú 。
Factory wastewater pollutes the river.
Use: Only wastewater from industry or domestic use.

Quick learning tips:

  • Tone: Memorize the tones of each word by practicing reading it out loud and recording it. Use online Chinese learning apps to check your pronunciation.
  • Tips to remember Chinese characters: Analyze the structure of Chinese characters, looking for the relationship between the radicals and the meaning of the word. For example: “水” (shuǐ – water) in “水污染” (shuǐ wūrǎn – water pollution).
  • How to use in a sentence: Learn how to use vocabulary in sentences by reading examples and creating your own sentences.
  • Dictionary: Use a Chinese dictionary to look up the meaning and specific examples of each word.
  • Practice regularly: Apply learned vocabulary to writing and speaking exercises to reinforce knowledge.

Vocabulary

From Pinyin Meaning
污染 wū rǎn polluted
空气污染 kōngqì wūrǎn air pollution
水污染 shuǐ wū rǎn water pollution
土壤污染 tǔrǎng wūrǎn soil pollution
噪音污染 zàoyīn wūrǎn noise pollution
光污染 guāng wūrǎn light pollution
垃圾 lājī garbage
废物 fèi wù waste
废气 fèi qì exhaust
废水 fèi shuǐ wastewater
排放 páifàng discharge
治理 zhìlǐ treatment
保护 bǎo hù protect
环保 huánbǎo environmental protection
可持续发展 kě chí xù fā zhǎn sustainable development
碳排放 tàn páifàng carbon emissions
温室气体 wēnshì qìtǐ greenhouse gas
全球变暖 quánqiú biàn nuǎn global warming
酸雨 suān yǔ acid rain
臭氧层破坏 chòuyǎngcéng pòhuài ozone layer depletion
生态系统 shēng tài xì tǒng ecosystem
环境 huánjìng environment
资源 zīyuán resources
可再生能源 kě zài shēng néng yuán renewable energy
节能减排 jié néng jiǎn pái save energy, reduce emissions
循环经济 xúnhuán jīngjì circular economy
低碳生活 dī tàn shēnghuó low carbon living
碳中和 tàn zhōng hé carbon neutral
生态平衡 shēng tài píng héng ecological balance
可持续 kě chí sú sustainable
污染物 wūrǎnwù pollutant
生态 shēng tài Ecology
平衡 pínghéng balance
破坏 pòhuài destructive
减排 jiǎn pái reduce emissions
节能 jié néng energy saving
低碳 dī tàn low carbon
绿色 lǜsè green
臭氧层 chòu yǎng céng ozone layer
温室效应 wēnshì xiàoyìng greenhouse effect
沙漠化 shāmòhuà desertification
砍伐 kǎnfá cut down
化肥 huàféi chemical fertilizer
农药 nóngyào pesticide
重金属 zhòng jǐnshǔ heavy metal
塑料 sùliào plastic
降解 jiàngjiě decompose
危害 wēihài harmful
预防 yùfáng prevent
白色污染 báisè wū rǎn white pollution (plastic waste)
严重 yánzhòng serious
影响 yǐngxiǎng affect
健康 jiànkāng health
措施 cuòshī measure
有效 yǒuxiào effective
政府 zhèngfǔ government
意识 yìshí awareness
提高 tígāo advanced
全球性 quánqiú xìng global
问题 wèntí problem
解决 jiějué handle
气候变化 qìhòu biànhuà climate change