jim5 wu1染污
Jyutpingjim5 wu1
Yaleyíhm wū
Definition
To soil, contaminate, or pollute.
neutraldaily actionsdescriptions
How it's used
Focuses on the physical act of getting something dirty or stained, often implying a surface-level mess. While it can be used for abstract contamination, it is most frequently applied to clothes, hands, or household items that have come into contact with dirt, grease, or ink. It carries a slightly more formal or descriptive tone than simply saying 污糟.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 污染, which is used for large-scale environmental pollution like air or water. Use 染污 for specific items that have been dirtied, and 污染 for systemic or ecological issues.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
