Meaning
弄脏 is a common resultative compound verb meaning to make something dirty or to soil something. It combines 弄 (to do, to handle) with 脏 (dirty) to express the action of causing something to become dirty. This is a typical Chinese grammatical pattern where the second character indicates the result of the first action.
Usage
Native speakers use 弄脏 in everyday contexts when referring to accidentally or intentionally making something dirty. It commonly appears with clothing, floors, hands, or other objects that can be soiled. The word is neutral in register and appropriate for both spoken and written language. Often followed by the object being dirtied.
Examples
- 01小心别把新衣服弄脏了。.Be careful not to dirty your new clothes.
- 02孩子们在外面玩儿，把鞋子都弄脏了。, .The children were playing outside and got their shoes all dirty.
Characters
Common collocations
- 弄脏衣服to dirty one's clothes
- 弄脏手to dirty one's hands
- 把...弄脏...to make ... dirty
- 不小心弄脏to accidentally dirty
Antonyms
Origin
This is a resultative verb compound following the pattern verb + result, where 弄 (to handle/do) combines with 脏 (dirty) to mean causing something to become dirty through handling or action.