Meaning
pollution; contamination
Nuance & Usage
汚染 refers to pollution or contamination of the natural environment. Common compounds: 大気汚染 (taiki osen — air pollution), 水質汚染 (suishitsu osen — water pollution), 土壌汚染 (dojo osen — soil contamination), 放射能汚染 (houshanou osen — radioactive contamination). The verb form: 汚染する (to pollute/contaminate), 汚染される (to be polluted). Related: 環境汚染 (kankyou osen — environmental pollution), 汚染物質 (contaminants/pollutants). This word is important for environmental discussions.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 汚染 (osen — scientific/formal pollution/contamination) with 汚れ (yogore — dirt/grime, everyday uncleanliness) or ゴミ (gomi — garbage/trash). 汚染 is specifically about chemical, biological, or radioactive contamination of environments; 汚れ is just physical dirtiness. Also: 汚染を防ぐ (prevent pollution) and 汚染を減らす (reduce pollution) are important collocations for environmental writing.
Example Sentences
工場からの廃水による川の水質汚染が問題になっています。
こうじょうからのはいすいによるかわのすいしつおせんがもんだいになっています。
Water pollution in rivers caused by factory wastewater is becoming a problem.
大気汚染を減らすために、車の排気ガス規制が強化されました。
たいきおせんをへらすために、くるまのはいきがすきせいがきょうかされました。
Vehicle exhaust emission regulations were tightened in order to reduce air pollution.
環境汚染は将来の世代のためにも解決すべき問題です。
かんきょうおせんはしょうらいのせだいのためにもかいけつすべきもんだいです。
Environmental pollution is a problem that must be solved for future generations as well.
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