noun HSK 5
Traditional 霧霾
smog · haze · air pollution
Meaning
雾霾 refers to the thick, harmful haze caused by air pollution, particularly common in urban areas of China. It combines natural fog with industrial pollutants, vehicle emissions, and dust particles, creating poor air quality and reduced visibility.
Usage
This term became extremely prominent in Chinese media and daily conversation starting around 2013 when severe air pollution episodes affected major cities. It's used in weather reports, health warnings, and environmental discussions. Often appears with words like 严重 (serious) or 天气 (weather).
Examples
- 01北京今天的雾霾很严重，能见度很低。, .Beijing's smog is very severe today, and visibility is very low.
- 02因为雾霾天气，很多人出门都戴口罩。, .Because of the smoggy weather, many people wear face masks when going out.
Characters
Measure words
- 场一场雾霾
- 次几次雾霾天气
Common collocations
- 雾霾天气smoggy weather
- 严重的雾霾severe smog
- 雾霾笼罩shrouded in smog
- 治理雾霾to control/manage smog
Antonyms
Origin
雾 originally meant natural fog, while 霾 referred to dust-laden haze. The compound became widely used in modern Chinese to specifically describe pollution-caused smog.