污染 wū rǎn

“to pollute; to contaminate (lit. and fig.)”

verb / noun, verbHSK 4 · 2021 list level 5

新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level

污染 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.

Entry 1780: 污染 wūrǎn — Level 4; official annotation 4 (动). PDF page 124

Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.

用法How to use 污染

污染 means “to pollute” or “pollution.” It is used for harmful contamination of air, water, the environment, etc., as in 污染环境 or 空气污染. A common pattern is [thing] 污染 [place/air/water], or [air/water] 被污染了.

例句Example sentences

这家工厂污染了附近的河水。zhè jiā gōng chǎng wū rǎn le fù jìn de hé shuǐ.This factory polluted the nearby river water.
大城市的空气污染很严重。dài chéng shì de kōng qì wū rǎn hěn yán zhòng.Air pollution in big cities is very serious.
我们要减少污染，保护环境。wǒ men yào jiǎn shǎo wū rǎn, bǎo hù huán jìng.We need to reduce pollution and protect the environment.

常见错误Common mistakes

✗这里的空气很污染。

✓这里的空气污染很严重。

污染 is a verb or noun, not an adjective, so it cannot be modified by 很; use 污染很严重 or 被污染了.