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污 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
污
wū
filthy, dirty; polluted, impure
HSK 3, vn, 6 strokes, radical 氵, rank #17075, Medium
污
wū
foul
HSK 3, unknown, 6 strokes, radical 氵, rank #17075, Medium
污
wū
corrupt
HSK 3, unknown, 6 strokes, radical 氵, rank #17075, Medium
污
wū
to smear
HSK 3, unknown, 6 strokes, radical 氵, rank #17075, Medium
污
wū
to defile
HSK 3, unknown, 6 strokes, radical 氵, rank #17075, Medium
污
wū
dirt
HSK 3, unknown, 6 strokes, radical 氵, rank #17075, Medium
污
wū
filth
HSK 3, unknown, 6 strokes, radical 氵, rank #17075, Medium
wū(wu1)wu T1
1filthy, dirty; polluted, impure
2foul
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March 24, 2026
污(汚)wū(wu1)
污 (wū) refers to something that is dirty, filthy, or polluted. It can describe physical dirt, such as grime or stains, as well as metaphorical meanings, like corruption or moral impurity. This word is often used in contexts discussing environmental issues or moral decay.
Strokes6Radical氵Frequency#17075DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
污 is frequently used in discussions around environmental pollution in China, especially given the country's rapid industrialization and the resultant environmental crises. Awareness of污 helps learners understand contemporary socio-political issues in Chinese society.
Memory tip
Imagine a muddy field where a 'woo' (wū) of filth has spread everywhere. The character 污 resembles a person with a dirty shirt (the water radical 氵) and dirt on the ground (the other part of the character), reminding you of something that is tainted and unclean.
Meanings of 污
wū(wu1)
1filthy, dirty; polluted, impure
2foul
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
Play it, then pick what 污 means.
About 污
污Simplified
汚Traditional
6Strokes
氵Radical
名动词dòngcíverb-noun (v.-n.)Part of Speech
#17075Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L3
Podcast: 污
Podcast: 污
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AI study notes for 污
Quick Contrast
污 (wū) vs 脏 (zāng) — use 污 for pollution or metaphorical moral impurity, while 脏 refers more generally to physical dirtiness.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 污 with similar-sounding characters. It's commonly used in both written and spoken Chinese, particularly in discussions about pollution. Remember that it can also be used in formal contexts, so avoid overly casual language when discussing serious topics related to corruption or environmental issues.
HSK Study Tips
Although 污 is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, it connects well with words related to cleanliness or purity at the same level, like 干净 (gānjìng - clean) and 清洁 (qīngjié - to clean). Focus on understanding its usage in environmental dialogues.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly write 污 as 无 (wú), which means 'none' or 'not.' Ensure you remember that 污 has the water radical 氵, indicating its connection to dirtiness or pollution.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 污
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污 = 氵 + 亏. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 污
IDS Structure⿰氵亏
污Full character
=
氵shui3
left
亏kui1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 污?
How to say filthy, dirty; polluted, impure in Chinese
“filthy, dirty; polluted, impure” in Chinese is污wū
污 (wū) refers to something that is dirty, filthy, or polluted. It can describe physical dirt, such as grime or stains, as well as metaphorical meanings, like corruption or moral impurity. This word is often used in contexts discussing environmental issues or moral decay.
When to use 污
Be careful not to confuse 污 with similar-sounding characters. It's commonly used in both written and spoken Chinese, particularly in discussions about pollution. Remember that it can also be used in formal contexts, so avoid overly casual language when discussing serious topics related to corruption or environmental issues.
污 or something close to it
污 (wū) vs 脏 (zāng) — use 污 for pollution or metaphorical moral impurity, while 脏 refers more generally to physical dirtiness.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly write 污 as 无 (wú), which means 'none' or 'not.' Ensure you remember that 污 has the water radical 氵, indicating its connection to dirtiness or pollution.
Write 污
污
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Practice writing 污 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 污
污 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 7 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
It is probably the most polluted body of water in the world.
8
伦道夫的著作专门论述污染对健康的影响。
lún dào fū de zhùzuò zhuānmén lùnshù wūrǎn duì jiànkāng de yǐngxiǎng。
Randolph's work was exclusively concerned with the effects of pollution on health.
9
在黄石公园里使用雪车这一想法，为人们提供了一种对环境低影响、低污染的游览方式。
zài huáng dàn gōngyuán lǐ shǐyòng xuě chē zhè yī xiǎngfǎ， wéirén men tígōng le yī zhǒng duì huánjìng dī yǐngxiǎng、 dī wūrǎn de yóulǎn fāngshì。
The snowcoach concept in Yellowstone provides low-impact, low-pollution access.
10
从汉福德受污染的土地里渗出的有毒物质很快就在水中稀释了。
cóng hàn fú dé shòu wūrǎn de tǔdì lǐ shèn chū de yǒudú wùzhì hěn kuài jiù zài shuǐ zhōng xī shì le。
The poisons seeping from Hanford's contaminated land quickly dilute in the water.
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Word Family of 污
Words containing this character20
污染wūrǎnpollution
污水wūshuǐsewage
贪污tānwūto be corrupt貪污
玷污diànwūto stain
污点wūdiǎnstain污點
污wūdirty
污染物wūrǎnwùpollutant
污渍wūzìstain污漬
污秽wūhuìnasty污穢
排污páiwūto drain sewage
环境污染huánjìngwūrǎnenvironmental pollution環境污染
污迹wūjìblotch污跡
污垢wūgòufilth
污蔑wūmièto slander污衊
污辱wūrǔto humiliate
水污染shuǐwūrǎnwater pollution
同流合污tóngliúhéwūto wallow in the mire with sb (idiom); to follow the bad example of others
油污yóuwūgreasy and dirty
污浊wūzhuódirty污濁
污泥wūnímud
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 污
What does 污染 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 污
Synonyms for 污 (wū) include 脏 (zāng), which means dirty, and 污秽 (wūhuì), which means filth or impurity. These words can be used interchangeably depending on the context, especially when discussing cleanliness or moral integrity.
Yes, 污 (wū) can be found in idiomatic expressions that refer to corruption or dirtiness, such as 污点 (wūdiǎn), meaning 'stain' or 'blemish.' These expressions are important for understanding cultural references in discussions about morality and ethics.
污 (wū) means filthy, foul, or corrupt in Chinese. It can also refer to the act of smearing or defiling something. This character is often used in contexts related to dirtiness or moral corruption.
You can use 污 (wū) in sentences to describe something that is dirty or contaminated. For example, you might say, '这个地方很污' (zhège dìfāng hěn wū), meaning 'This place is very filthy.' It's often used in discussions about cleanliness or ethical issues.
Common phrases include 污水 (wūshuǐ - wastewater) and 污染 (wūrǎn - pollution), which are often encountered in environmental discussions.
No, 污 inherently carries a negative connotation related to dirtiness or corruption.
污 is pronounced with a high-level tone, similar to the English 'woo' but with a slight emphasis.
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