玷污 (diàn wū) — to stain, to sully, to tarnish (literally or figuratively)

Definition

Strong, formal/literary verb meaning 'to sully, tarnish' — usually abstract things like 名声, 形象, 尊严. Stronger and more rhetorical than 污染, which refers to physical pollution.

verb
to stainto sullyto tarnish (literally or figuratively)

Examples

  • 玷污。
    Zhè jiàn shì yán zhòng diàn wū le tā de míng shēng.
    This matter seriously tarnished his reputation.
  • 玷污。
    Méi yǒu rén kě yǐ diàn wū zhè zuò chéng shì de xíng xiàng.
    No one can defile the image of this city.
  • 玷污。
    Gōng chǎng de fèi shuǐ diàn wū le fù jìn de hé liú.
    The factory's wastewater polluted the nearby river.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

玷diànspot
污wūdirt

玷 and 污 both refer to spots or dirt; together they mean to make something dirty or tarnish it.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
𤣩Written in full as玉yù
Sound part声符shēngfú
占
占zhàn玷diàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left part 𤣩 is the side form of 玉 (jade), showing the meaning relates to jade; the right part 占 gives the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 汙; 污 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
于
于yú汙wū
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 汙 pairs 水 (water) with 于 for the sound; the simplified 污 is a later shorthand.

Open 污 →

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