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污秽 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
污秽wūhuìnastyHSK 7, unknown, 17 strokes, rank #13243, Very Hard
污秽wūhuìsordidHSK 7, unknown, 17 strokes, rank #13243, Very Hard
污秽wūhuìfilthyHSK 7, unknown, 17 strokes, rank #13243, Very Hard
wūhuì(wu1hui4)wu hui T1
  1. 1nasty
  2. 2sordid
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March 24, 2026

污秽(污穢)wūhuì(wu1hui4)

污秽 (wūhuì) refers to something that is dirty, filthy, or morally corrupt. It is often used to describe physical filth or metaphorically to denote sordid situations or behaviors. This term can be applied in both literal and figurative contexts, such as describing an unclean environment or unethical actions.

Strokes17Frequency#13243DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

污秽 often carries a strong negative connotation in Chinese culture, relating to both physical hygiene and moral standards. In Chinese literature and traditional beliefs, cleanliness is closely tied to virtue, making this word impactful in discussions about societal values.

Memory tip

Imagine a muddy pig (污) wallowing in a dirty puddle (秽). The character 污 looks like a 'muddy' water droplet, and 秽 sounds like 'hey' while pointing at something filthy. Together, envision a pig saying 'Hey, I'm muddy and filthy!' to remember the meaning.

Meanings of 污秽

wūhuì(wu1hui4)
1nasty
2sordid
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About 污秽

污秽Simplified
污穢Traditional
17Strokes
—Radical
名形词xíngróngcíadj-noun (adj.-n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 污秽

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Podcast: 污秽

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AI study notes for 污秽

Quick Contrast

污垢 (wūgòu) refers specifically to dirt or grime, while 污秽 (wūhuì) encompasses both physical and moral filth.

Usage Notes

污秽 is generally used in formal or literary contexts rather than casual conversation. Be careful not to confuse it with similar terms like 脏 (zāng), which simply means 'dirty' without the moral connotation. Use it to discuss topics that involve ethical concerns or cleanliness issues.

HSK Study Tips

While 污秽 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it connects to other HSK words like 脏 (dirty) and 恶心 (nauseating). Focus on understanding its usage in contexts involving morality or cleanliness as you progress through HSK levels.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 污秽 with 脏, leading to misinterpretations of context. For example, saying '这件衣服很污秽' (This piece of clothing is very filthy) is correct, but using it to describe a slightly dirty shirt may be overstating the issue; '这件衣服很脏' would be more appropriate.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 污秽

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Component characters

污wūfilthy, dirty; polluted, impure
HSK 36 strokes氵
View full entry
秽huìdirty, unclean; immoral, obscene
11 strokes禾
View full entry

How to say nasty in Chinese

“nasty” in Chinese is污秽wūhuì

污秽 (wūhuì) refers to something that is dirty, filthy, or morally corrupt. It is often used to describe physical filth or metaphorically to denote sordid situations or behaviors. This term can be applied in both literal and figurative contexts, such as describing an unclean environment or unethical actions.

When to use 污秽

污秽 is generally used in formal or literary contexts rather than casual conversation. Be careful not to confuse it with similar terms like 脏 (zāng), which simply means 'dirty' without the moral connotation. Use it to discuss topics that involve ethical concerns or cleanliness issues.

污秽 or something close to it

污垢 (wūgòu) refers specifically to dirt or grime, while 污秽 (wūhuì) encompasses both physical and moral filth.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 污秽 with 脏, leading to misinterpretations of context. For example, saying '这件衣服很污秽' (This piece of clothing is very filthy) is correct, but using it to describe a slightly dirty shirt may be overstating the issue; '这件衣服很脏' would be more appropriate.

Write 污秽

污
秽

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Frequently asked questions about 污秽

No, it is more commonly found in written or formal contexts, such as literature or discussions about ethics.

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