毒

• Pinyin: dú
• Hanzi breakdown: 毒 = 龶 (top part) + 母 (mother) — originally depicted a poisonous plant

Meaning

Poison; toxic; to poison. Harmful substances that can cause injury or death, or the quality of being poisonous.

Can be a noun (poison), verb (to poison), or adjective (toxic/poisonous). Extended meanings include 毒品 (drugs/narcotics), 中毒 (to be poisoned), and colloquially 毒舌 (sharp-tongued). In internet slang, 有毒 means 'addictive' or 'hilariously absurd.'

Examples

1. 这种蘑菇有毒，千万不能吃。 This mushroom is poisonous; you must never eat it.
2. 他不小心吃了毒蘑菇，被送进了医院。 He accidentally ate a poisonous mushroom and was sent to the hospital.
3. 现代社会要警惕毒品的危害。 Modern society must be vigilant about the dangers of drugs.

Usage Guide

Context: health, safety, crime

Tone: warning

Do Say

• 小心，这个有毒！(Careful, this is poisonous!)
• 他中毒了。(He was poisoned.)

Don't Say

• 说'这个食物很毒'表示辣 (Don't use 毒 to describe spicy food — use 辣 or 刺激; 毒 means literally poisonous)

Origin & History

Pictophonetic character with 母 (mother) originally as a sound component and 屮 (grass) indicating plant-based poisons.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal