Definition

1. Verb:

   • To be polluted, to become contaminated: "nhiễm bẩn" describes the process or state of something becoming impure, dirty, or harmful due to the introduction of unwanted or toxic substances.
   • To be infected (in a medical/biological context): While less common, it can sometimes refer to a biological contamination, such as a wound becoming infected.

2. Noun (Sự nhiễm bẩn):

   • Pollution, contamination: The state or result of being polluted or contaminated.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Không khí ở thành phố này đã bị nhiễm bẩn nghiêm trọng. (The air in this city has been seriously polluted.)
  • Nguồn nước ngầm có nguy cơ nhiễm bẩn do chất thải công nghiệp. (The groundwater is at risk of becoming contaminated by industrial waste.)
• Noun (Sự nhiễm bẩn):
  • Sự nhiễm bẩn môi trường là một vấn đề toàn cầu. (Environmental pollution is a global issue.)
  • Cần ngăn chặn sự nhiễm bẩn của nguồn thức ăn. (It is necessary to prevent the contamination of the food supply.)

Advanced Usage

• "nhiễm bẩn chéo": cross-contamination.
  • Để riêng thực phẩm sống và chín để tránh nhiễm bẩn chéo. (Keep raw and cooked food separate to avoid cross-contamination.)
• "vùng nhiễm bẩn": contaminated zone/polluted area.
  • Khu vực gần nhà máy đó được coi là vùng nhiễm bẩn. (The area near that factory is considered a contaminated zone.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ô nhiễm (n, v): Pollution; to pollute. (This is a more common and general synonym for environmental pollution).
• Làm nhiễm bẩn (v): To contaminate, to pollute. (The active/transitive form).
• Nhiễm độc (v): To be poisoned, to be intoxicated. (Specifically refers to toxic substances).
• Nhiễm khuẩn (v): To be infected with bacteria.

Synonyms

• Bị ô nhiễm: To be polluted.
• Bị nhiễm độc: To be contaminated with poison/toxins.
• Bị bẩn: To be dirty (more general, less severe).

Related Phrases (Collocations)

• Nhiễm bẩn không khí: Air pollution / to be air-polluted.
• Nhiễm bẩn nguồn nước: Water source pollution / to have a water source contaminated.
• Nhiễm bẩn thực phẩm: Food contamination.

Related Idioms

Note: There are no direct, common idioms using "nhiễm bẩn" as a core component. The concept is typically expressed directly.

1. Be polluted
   • Sự nhiễm bẩn
     Pollution