Korean word

오염

Pronunciation

Romanizationoyeom

Meaning

  • nounpollution

Example

우리는 오염을 줄이기 위해 분리수거를 합니다.u ri neun o yeo meul chu ri gi wi hae pul li su geo reul ham ni da

We sort our waste for recycling to reduce pollution.

Illustration for 오염 (pollution)

More examples

시민들이 해변의 오염을 신고했다.si min deu ri hae byeo nui o yeo meul sin go haet tta

The citizens reported pollution on the beach.

Core concept

Harmful contamination spreads through air, water, or land and damages living things.

Common phrases

  • 토양 오염to yang o yeom

    soil pollution

  • 환경 오염hwan gyeong o yeom

    environmental pollution

Similar words

공해konghae: Industrial and everyday activities can spread harmful substances that hurt people and ecosystems.
대기오염taegioyeom: Too many harmful substances in the air can damage health and the natural world.
수질오염sujiroyeom: Dirty water containing harmful substances or waste can harm rivers, seas, and aquatic life.
토양오염toyangoyeom: Harmful waste or chemicals in soil can weaken the land and harm crops.

Definition in Korean

유해한 물질이나 쓰레기 등이 공기·물·땅에 섞여 환경이나 사람의 건강에 피해를 주는 상태yu hae han mul jji ri na sseu re gi teung i kong gi mul ttang e seo kkyeo hwan gyeong i na sa ra mui keon gang e pi hae reul chu neun sang tae

Word origin

The Sino-Korean word combines roots connected with becoming dirty and being stained, creating the image of harmful contamination spreading.

Usage tips

  • English pollution is a broad word, but this Korean noun most strongly brings environmental contamination to mind, so the surrounding context often identifies what is affected.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word