Japanese word

汚染

Pronunciation

Romajiosen

Meaning

  • nounpollution

Example

工場が川の汚染を引き起こしました。kō jō ga kawa no o sen o hi ki o ko shi ma shi ta

The factory caused pollution in the river.

Illustration for 汚染 (pollution)

More examples

海岸の汚染を防ぐため、市は新しい規則を作りました。kai gan no o sen o fuse gu ta me shi wa atara shi i ki soku o tsuku ri ma shi ta

To prevent pollution along the coast, the city made new rules.

Core concept

Refers to the damaging spread of harmful substances through a place, substance, or living environment.

Common phrases

  • 汚染を防ぐo sen o fuse gu

    prevent pollution

  • 大気汚染tai ki o sen

    air pollution

  • 水質汚染sui shitsu o sen

    water pollution

  • 環境汚染kan kyō o sen

    environmental pollution

Similar words

公害kōgai: Damage to people or the natural environment caused by human activity.
汚濁odaku: A condition in which water or another liquid becomes dirty with harmful matter.
混入konnyū: The entry of one substance into another, usually without being wanted.

Definition in Japanese

空気・水・土などが有害な物質によって汚れ、本来の状態を失うこと。kū ki mizu do na do ga yū gai na bus shitsu ni yo tte yogo re hon rai no jō tai o ushina u ko to

Word origin

汚染 (osen) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 汚 (o, "dirty") and 染 (sen, "dye"), whose meanings together suggest becoming tainted.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 汚染 (osen) can describe pollution in a river as well as contamination of food, so it is not limited to dirty air.

Other meanings

  • contaminationnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 汚染するosensurupolluteverb
  • 汚染度osendopollution levelnoun

Word lists with this word