玷污

diànwū

verb #8,735

Meanings

1 to stain; to sully; to tarnish
2 to bring disgrace upon; to defile

Characters

flaw in a gem; to blemish

dirty; to contaminate

Blemish + dirty - to leave a stain on something pure, especially in a moral sense.

Examples

HSK 6

他的行为玷污了学校的名誉。

Tā de xíngwéi diànwū le xuéxiào de míngyù.

His behavior tarnished the school's reputation.

HSK 7-9

不要玷污这份神圣的职业。

Bùyào diànwū zhè fèn shénshèng de zhíyè.

Don't sully this sacred profession.

HSK 7-9

这件丑闻玷污了他一辈子的清白。

Zhè jiàn chǒuwén diànwū le tā yībèizi de qīngbái.

This scandal tarnished his lifelong innocence.

Tips

register

玷污 is formal/literary and carries strong moral weight. It is used for abstract things like reputation, honor, and purity. For physical staining, use 弄脏 (nòngzāng) or 污染 (wūrǎn) instead.

Stroke Order

玷 diàn

污 wū