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传染 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
传染
chuánrǎn
to infect
HSK 6, vn, 15 strokes, rank #4982, Hard
传染
chuánrǎn
contagious
HSK 6, vn, 15 strokes, rank #4982, Hard
chuánrǎn(chuan2ran3)chuan ran T2
1to infect
2contagious
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March 24, 2026
传染(傳染)chuánrǎn(chuan2ran3)
传染 refers to the process of spreading an illness or disease from one individual to another. It is commonly used in medical contexts to describe contagious diseases, as well as in discussions about health and safety measures.
Strokes15Frequency#4982DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 传染 is particularly relevant during public health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, where discussions about contagious diseases and preventive measures became crucial in everyday life.
Memory tip
Think of '传' (to transmit) and '染' (to dye), imagining a virus transmitting a 'dye' of sickness from one person to another. Picture a scene where bright colors represent health and dull colors represent illness, emphasizing the transfer of infection.
Meanings of 传染
chuánrǎn(chuan2ran3)
1to infect
2contagious
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 传染
传染Simplified
傳染Traditional
15Strokes
—Radical
名动词dòngcíverb-noun (v.-n.)Part of Speech
#4982Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L6AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 传染
Podcast: 传染
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AI study notes for 传染
Quick Contrast
感染 (gǎnrǎn) — use 传染 when emphasizing the transmission aspect, while 感染 focuses on the state of being infected.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 传染 with similar terms like 感染 (gǎn rǎn), which means 'to infect' but is used more broadly. 传染 is often used in formal health discussions, while 感染 might appear in everyday conversations about getting sick.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 传染 relates to health and safety vocabulary. Students should focus on its usage in sentences about diseases and public health, connecting it with words like 病 (bìng, illness) and 疫情 (yìqíng, epidemic).
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 传染 with 感染, leading to sentences like '我被传染了流感' (I was transmitted the flu), which should be corrected to '我感染了流感' (I was infected with the flu).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 传染
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传染 refers to the process of spreading an illness or disease from one individual to another. It is commonly used in medical contexts to describe contagious diseases, as well as in discussions about health and safety measures.
When to use 传染
Be careful not to confuse 传染 with similar terms like 感染 (gǎn rǎn), which means 'to infect' but is used more broadly. 传染 is often used in formal health discussions, while 感染 might appear in everyday conversations about getting sick.
传染 or something close to it
感染 (gǎnrǎn) — use 传染 when emphasizing the transmission aspect, while 感染 focuses on the state of being infected.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 传染 with 感染, leading to sentences like '我被传染了流感' (I was transmitted the flu), which should be corrected to '我感染了流感' (I was infected with the flu).
Write 传染
传
染
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Grammar patterns of 传染
传染 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 2 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
____病正在遭受洪灾的很多灾民中蔓延。
Infectious diseases are spreading among many of the flood victims.
The major impact of this epidemic worldwide is yet to come.
8
每天都有几百人染上这种可怕的传染病而牺牲.
měi tiān dōu yǒu jǐ bǎi rén rǎn shàng zhè zhǒng kěpà de chuánrǎnbìng ér xīshēng.
Daily, hundreds fell a sacrifice to the terrible epidemic.
9
除了在波兰时染上的那点传染病外, 他的健康实在很好.
chúle zài Bō lán shí rǎn shàng de nà diǎn chuánrǎnbìng wài, tā de jiànkāng shízài hěn hǎo.
Apart from the little infection he had caught in Poland, his health was sound.
10
所有这些传染病病例都是由那口井引发的 吗 ?
suǒyǒu zhèxiē chuánrǎnbìng bìng lì dōushì yóu nà kǒu jǐng yǐnfā de ma?
Is that well the source of all the cases of infection?
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Cultural Notes for 传染
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
While both Chinese and Western cultures recognize contagious diseases, the emphasis on community health and collective responsibility in Chinese culture can lead to stricter measures compared to individualistic approaches often seen in the West.
Frequently asked questions about 传染
You can say '这个病毒很容易传染' (This virus is highly contagious).
While primarily used for diseases, it can also refer to the spread of certain behaviors or trends metaphorically.
传染 specifically refers to the act of spreading contagiously, while 感染 can mean to be infected, focusing on the state of having the disease.
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