穢 (huì) - Filthy, dirty & foul, unclean

穢Tone 4

huì ｜ 18 strokes ｜ radical:

慧佳

穢 · huì

Filthy, dirty;

foul, unclean;

obscene, vulgar;

refers to impurity, waste, or weeds.

Filthy, dirtyfoul, uncleanobscene, vulgar

Usage highlights

Filthy and dirtyVulgar languageImmoral conductWeeds and overgrowthFoul airWaste matter

Synonyms

  • 脏— dirty, filthy
  • 污— dirty, foul, corrupt
  • 浊— turbid, muddy, impure

Antonyms

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

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The room was filthy and full of rubbish (污秽).
  • He used vulgar language (秽语).
  • We need to clear the weeds from the field (芜秽).
  • The act was considered morally defiling (秽行).

Collocations

  • Filthy and dirty(污秽)
  • Vulgar language(秽语)
  • Immoral conduct(秽行)
  • Weeds and overgrowth(芜秽)
  • Foul air(秽气)
  • Waste matter(秽物)

Idioms

  • To dredge the foul and promote the fresh(涤瑕荡秽)
  • Self-perception of one's own faults(自惭形秽)
  • Foul language and abusive talk(秽言污语)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese thought, '秽' represents not just physical dirt but also moral and spiritual impurity.
  • The character is often used in Buddhist and Daoist contexts to refer to worldly attachments and defilements that hinder enlightenment.
  • Cleansing oneself of '秽' was seen as essential for both physical health and moral purity.

FAQ