About
污 is a phono-semantic compound: the left component 氵 (water) provides the meaning, while the right component 亏 (a variant of 于) indicates the pronunciation. Historically, the character also appeared as 汙 and 汚, varying the written form of the phonetic but retaining the water radical. The original sense was a pool of stagnant water or a puddle. This extended to physical dirt, filth, and stains. From these literal meanings arose abstract uses such as moral corruption, defilement, slander, and modern environmental pollution.
Example Sentences Hide
这条河被污染了。
工厂排放污水。
衣服上有污点。
厨房里有很多污垢。
他不应该污蔑别人。
污辱他人是不对的。
那个官员因贪污被捕。
如果继续污染环境，后果将很严重。
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