气体

• Pinyin: qì tǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 气 = simplified from 氣, air/gas; 体 = simplified from 體, body/form

Meaning

Gas; gaseous substance. Matter in the gaseous state, as opposed to solid or liquid.

Scientific term for gases: 温室气体 (greenhouse gases), 有毒气体 (toxic gas), 气体燃料 (gaseous fuel). Part of the trio: 固体 (solid), 液体 (liquid), 气体 (gas). Can be natural or industrial.

Examples

1. 氧气是一种无色无味的气体。 Oxygen is a colorless and odorless gas.
2. 工厂排放的有害气体会污染空气。 Harmful gases emitted by factories pollute the air.
3. 温室气体增加是全球变暖的主要原因。 The increase in greenhouse gases is the main cause of global warming.

Usage Guide

Context: science, environment, industry

Tone: technical

Do Say

• 二氧化碳是一种温室气体。(Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas.)
• 请检测一下室内气体含量。(Please test the indoor gas levels.)

Don't Say

• 我闻到了一种气体。(While grammatical, for everyday smells just say 味道 or specify the gas)

Origin & History

气 (qì, air/gas) + 体 (tǐ, body/form). The form of air; gaseous matter.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal