传染

• Pinyin: chuán rǎn
• Hanzi breakdown: 传 = 亻 (person) + 专 (phonetic) = to transmit; 染 = 氵 (water) + 木 (wood) + 九 = to dye, stain

Meaning

To infect; to spread (disease); contagious. The transmission of disease from one person or organism to another.

Primarily used for disease transmission but can be extended metaphorically to emotions or behaviors that spread among people. 传染性 (infectiousness/contagiousness) and 传染源 (source of infection) are common medical terms.

Examples

1. 流感病毒主要通过飞沫传染。 The flu virus is mainly transmitted through respiratory droplets.
2. 他的乐观情绪传染给了周围的每一个人。 His optimism was contagious to everyone around him.
3. 这种病毒的传染性极强，需要高度警惕。 This virus is highly contagious and requires high vigilance.

Usage Guide

Context: medical, public health, figurative

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 戴口罩可以有效防止病毒传染。(Wearing masks can effectively prevent virus transmission.)
• 恐慌情绪在人群中迅速传染开来。(Panic spread rapidly through the crowd.)

Don't Say

• 他把知识传染给我 (For sharing knowledge, use 传授 or 教 — 传染 implies something spreading uncontrollably, often negative)

Origin & History

Compound of 传 (to transmit, spread) and 染 (to dye, to contaminate). Together they describe the spreading and contaminating nature of infection.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal