Are you looking for useful Chinese vocabulary about environment to support your learning, work, or research? Join Ni Hao Ma as we explore a complete list of essential environmental terms in Chinese – along with practical sample dialogues to help you apply what you learn right away!
Chinese Vocabulary About Environment
If you’re studying or working in the environmental field and want to expand your Chinese environmental vocabulary, this guide is perfect for you. Below, you’ll find over 70 key Chinese vocabulary about environment, covering topics like pollution, renewable energy, and environmental protection – helping you communicate more effectively in Chinese.
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 环境 | huánjìng | Environment |
| 自然 | zìrán | Nature |
| 空气 | kōngqì | Air |
| 水源 | shuǐyuán | Water source |
| 土壤 | tǔrǎng | Soil |
| 气候 | qìhòu | Climate |
| 温室效应 | wēnshì xiàoyìng | Greenhouse effect |
| 全球变暖 | quánqiú biànnuǎn | Global warming |
| 污染 | wūrǎn | Pollution |
| 空气污染 | kōngqì wūrǎn | Air pollution |
| 水污染 | shuǐ wūrǎn | Water pollution |
| 土壤污染 | tǔrǎng wūrǎn | Soil pollution |
| 废气 | fèiqì | Exhaust gas |
| 废水 | fèishuǐ | Wastewater |
| 废物 | fèiwù | Waste |
| 垃圾 | lājī | Garbage |
| 雾霾 | wùmái | Smog |
| 工业废物 | gōngyè fèiwù | Industrial waste |
| 可再生能源 | kě zàishēng néngyuán | Renewable energy |
| 不可再生能源 | bù kě zàishēng néngyuán | Non-renewable energy |
| 水力发电 | shuǐlì fādiàn | Hydropower |
| 火电 | huǒdiàn | Thermal power |
| 森林 | sēnlín | Forest |
| 能源 | néngyuán | Energy |
| 砍伐 | kǎnfá | Deforestation |
| 植树 | zhíshù | Tree planting |
| 野生动物 | yěshēng dòngwù | Wild animals |
| 毒物 | dúwù | Toxic substances |
| 氧气 | yǎngqì | Oxygen |
| 二氧化碳 | èryǎnghuàtàn | Carbon dioxide (CO₂) |
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 环境保护法 | huánjìng bǎohù fǎ | Environmental Protection Law |
| 环境许可证 | huánjìng xǔkě zhèng | Environmental permit |
| 排污许可证 | páiwū xǔkě zhèng | Emission permit |
| 环境影响评价 | huánjìng yǐngxiǎng píngjià | Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) |
| 环境污染防治 | huánjìng wūrǎn fángzhì | Pollution prevention and control |
| 废水处理 | fèishuǐ chǔlǐ | Wastewater treatment |
| 废气处理 | fèiqì chǔlǐ | Exhaust gas treatment |
| 固体废物 | gùtǐ fèiwù | Solid waste |
| 噪音污染 | zàoyīn wūrǎn | Noise pollution |
| 光污染 | guāng wūrǎn | Light pollution |
| 生态系统 | shēngtài xìtǒng | Ecosystem |
| 自然保护 | zìrán bǎohù | Nature conservation |
| 自然资源与环境部 | zìrán zīyuán yǔ huánjìng bù | Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment |
| 环境监管 | huánjìng jiānguǎn | Environmental supervision |
| 排放标准 | páifàng biāozhǔn | Emission standards |
| 环保项目 | huánbǎo xiàngmù | Environmental protection project |
| 环保意识 | huánbǎo yìshí | Environmental awareness |
| 过度开采 | guòdù kāicǎi | Overexploitation |
| 自然保护区 | zìrán bǎohù qū | Nature reserve |
| 绿色认证 | lǜsè rènzhèng | Green certification |
| 干旱 | gānhàn | Drought |
| 洪水 | hóngshuǐ | Flood |
| 地震 | dìzhèn | Earthquake |
| 海啸 | hǎixiào | Tsunami |
| 溢油 | yìyóu | Oil spill |
| 自然灾害 | zìrán zāihài | Natural disaster |
| 雪崩 | xuěbēng | Avalanche |
| 冰融 | bīngróng | Melting ice |
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 塑料 | sùliào | Plastic |
| 玻璃 | bōli | Glass |
| 金属 | jīnshǔ | Metal |
| 纸张 | zhǐzhāng | Paper |
| 木材 | mùcái | Wood |
| 布料 | bùliào | Fabric |
| 橡胶 | xiàngjiāo | Rubber |
| 废纸 | fèizhǐ | Waste paper |
| 废铁 | fèitiě | Scrap iron |
| 废塑 | fèisù | Waste plastic |
| 厨余 | chúyú | Food waste |
| 湿垃圾 | shī lājī | Wet waste |
| 干垃圾 | gān lājī | Dry waste |
| 有害垃圾 | yǒuhài lājī | Hazardous waste |
| 可回收 | kě huíshōu | Recyclable |
| 不可回收 | bù kě huíshōu | Non-recyclable |
| 电池 | diànchí | Battery |
| 灯管 | dēngguǎn | Light tube |
| 废油 | fèiyóu | Waste oil |
| 废水 | fèishuǐ | Wastewater |
| 污泥 | wūní | Sludge |
| 煤炭 | méitàn | Coal |
| 石油 | shíyóu | Petroleum |
| 天然气 | tiānránqì | Natural gas |
| 电能 | diànnéng | Electric energy |
| 风力 | fēnglì | Wind energy |
| 水力 | shuǐlì | Hydropower |
| 核能 | hénéng | Nuclear energy |
| 生能 | shēngnéng | Bioenergy |
| 太阳能 | tàiyángnéng | Solar energy |
| 节能 | jiénéng | Energy saving |
| 环境责任 | huánjìng zérèn | Environmental responsibility |
| 绿技术 | lǜ jìshù | Green technology |
| 可持续发展 | kěchíxù fāzhǎn | Sustainable development |
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 环保 | huánbǎo | Environmental protection |
| 环保活动 | huánbǎo huódòng | Environmental activities |
| 植树 | zhíshù | Tree planting |
| 节约用水 | jiéyuē yòngshuǐ | Save water |
| 节约用电 | jiéyuē yòngdiàn | Save electricity |
| 回收 | huíshōu | Recycle |
| 再利用 | zài lì yòng | Reuse |
| 分类垃圾 | fēnlèi lājī | Waste sorting |
| 减少污染 | jiǎnshǎo wūrǎn | Reduce pollution |
| 节能减排 | jiénéng jiǎnpái | Save energy and cut emissions |
| 使用环保袋 | shǐyòng huánbǎo dài | Use eco-friendly bags |
| 可降解塑料 | kě jiàngjiě sùliào | Biodegradable plastic |
| 玻璃瓶 | bōlipíng | Glass bottle |
| 不锈钢吸管 | búxiùgāng xīguǎn | Stainless steel straw |
| 竹吸管 | zhú xīguǎn | Bamboo straw |
| 再生纸 | zài shēng zhǐ | Recycled paper |
| 旧衣物 | jiù yī wù | Old clothes |
| 可重复使用杯 | kě chóngfù shǐyòng bēi | Reusable cup |
| 环保餐具 | huánbǎo cānjù | Eco-friendly utensils |
| 布袋 | bùdài | Cloth bag |
| 购物袋 | gòuwù dài | Shopping bag |
| 节能灯 | jiénéng dēng | Energy-saving light |
| 太阳能板 | tàiyángnéng bǎn | Solar panel |
| 空气净化器 | kōng qì jìng huà qì | Air purifier |
| 风力发电机 | fēnglì fādiànjī | Wind turbine |
| 电动车 | diàndòngchē | Electric vehicle |
| 公共交通 | gōnggòng jiāotōng | Public transport |
| 关灯 | guān dēng | Turn off the lights |
| 捡垃圾 | jiǎn lājī | Pick up trash |
| 收集 | shōu jí | Collect |
| 环保组织 | huánbǎo zǔzhī | Environmental organization |
| 志愿者 | zhìyuànzhě | Volunteer |
| 捐款 | juānkuǎn | Donation |
| 环保项目 | huánbǎo xiàngmù | Environmental project |
| 植树节 | zhíshù jié | Tree-Planting Day |
| 环保教育 | huánbǎo jiàoyù | Environmental education |
Sample dialogues using Chinese vocabulary about environment
Environmental topics frequently appear not only in HSK exams but also in daily conversations. If you study or work in a field related to sustainability or green development, mastering Chinese vocabulary about environment will help you communicate more fluently and naturally.
Dialogue 1: Air Pollution
A: 最近空气质量好像越来越差了。
(Zuìjìn kōngqì zhìliàng hǎoxiàng yuèláiyuè chà le.)
It seems like the air quality is getting worse lately.
B: 是啊，雾霾天越来越多，对健康很不好。
(Shì a, wùmái tiān yuèláiyuè duō, duì jiànkāng hěn bù hǎo.)
Yes, smoggy days are becoming more frequent — it’s really bad for our health.
A: 我听说政府在加强环境治理，限制工厂排放。
(Wǒ tīngshuō zhèngfǔ zài jiāqiáng huánjìng zhìlǐ, xiànzhì gōngchǎng páifàng.)
I heard the government is strengthening environmental regulations and limiting factory emissions.
B: 希望能早点改善空气质量。
(Xīwàng néng zǎodiǎn gǎishàn kōngqì zhìliàng.)
Hopefully, the air quality will improve soon.
Dialogue 2: Waste Sorting
A: 你平时会分类垃圾吗？
(Nǐ píngshí huì fēnlèi lājī ma?)
Do you usually separate your trash?
B: 会啊，现在我们小区都有垃圾分类桶。
(Huì a, xiànzài wǒmen xiǎoqū dōu yǒu lājī fēnlèi tǒng.)
Yes, our community now has recycling bins for waste sorting.
A: 我觉得垃圾分类能减少污染，还能回收资源。
(Wǒ juéde lājī fēnlèi néng jiǎnshǎo wūrǎn, hái néng huíshōu zīyuán.)
I think sorting waste helps reduce pollution and allows resource recycling.
B: 对，我还专门准备了厨余垃圾袋，很方便。
(Duì, wǒ hái zhuānmén zhǔnbèile chúyú lājī dài, hěn fāngbiàn.)
Right, I even prepared separate food waste bags — it’s really convenient.
Dialogue 3: Green Transportation
A: 你最近有没有考虑换电动车？
(Nǐ zuìjìn yǒu méiyǒu kǎolǜ huàn diàndòngchē?)
Have you thought about switching to an electric vehicle recently?
B: 有啊，我觉得电动车很方便，而且没有尾气排放。
(Yǒu a, wǒ juéde diàndòngchē hěn fāngbiàn, érqiě méiyǒu wěiqì páifàng.)
Yes, I think EVs are convenient and have no exhaust emissions.
A: 对，现在很多城市都在推广绿色出行。
(Duì, xiànzài hěn duō chéngshì dōu zài tuīguǎng lǜsè chūxíng.)
Exactly — many cities are now promoting green transportation.
B: 不过电动车充电站还不够多，有时候找起来挺麻烦的。
(Bùguò diàndòngchē chōngdiàn zhàn hái bú gòu duō, yǒu shíhòu zhǎo qǐlái tǐng máfan de.)
But there still aren’t enough charging stations — sometimes it’s hard to find one.
A: 是的，不过政府正在建设更多充电设施。
(Shì de, bùguò zhèngfǔ zhèngzài jiànshè gèng duō chōngdiàn shèshī.)
True, but the government is building more charging infrastructure now.
B: 希望以后电动车价格能更便宜，大家都能用上。
(Xīwàng yǐhòu diàndòngchē jiàgé néng gèng piányi, dàjiā dōu néng yòng shàng.)
Hopefully electric vehicles will become more affordable so everyone can use them.
Conclusion
Through this article from Ni Hao Ma, you’ve learned over 70 Chinese vocabulary about environment along with several real-life dialogues to help you speak more naturally. Environmental topics not only expand your professional Chinese vocabulary but also help you discuss global issues like climate change, renewable energy, and sustainable development.
