污 (wū) - dirt, filth & corruption, defilement

污Tone 1

wū ｜ 6 strokes ｜ radical: 氵

万响

污 · wū

dirt, filth;

corruption, defilement;

to stain, to pollute;

foul, dirty

dirt, filthcorruption, defilementto stain, to pollute

Usage highlights

polluted watercorruptiondirt, grimestain, blemishpollutionfilth, obscenity

Synonyms

  • 脏— dirty, filthy
  • 秽— filthy, unclean
  • 浊— turbid, muddy

Antonyms

  • 洁— clean, pure
  • 净— clean, pure
  • 清— clear, pure

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The river is polluted (污水).
  • He was accused of corruption (贪污).
  • Clean the dirt (污垢) from the surface.
  • This is a stain (污点) on his record.

Collocations

  • polluted water(污水)
  • corruption(贪污)
  • dirt, grime(污垢)
  • stain, blemish(污点)
  • pollution(污染)
  • filth, obscenity(污秽)

Idioms

  • To be stained with mud and dirt(同流合污)
  • To cover with filth and slander(含污纳垢)
  • To remove the dirt and wash away the shame(涤污洗耻)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • 污 carries strong negative connotations related to moral corruption and physical uncleanliness.
  • In historical contexts, it was used to describe defilement or dishonor, especially in Confucian moral philosophy.
  • In modern usage, it appears in environmental contexts (污染 - pollution) and anti-corruption campaigns (贪污).

FAQ