肥料

• Pinyin: féi liào
• Hanzi breakdown: 肥 = 月 + 卩 (flesh/body + kneeling figure — plump; fertile); 料 = 米 + 斗 (grain + measuring cup — material, substance)

Meaning

Fertiliser. A substance applied to soil or plants to supply nutrients and promote growth.

Covers both organic fertilisers (有机肥料) and chemical/synthetic fertilisers (化学肥料, 化肥). Used in agricultural, horticultural, and environmental science contexts. Related: 施肥 (to apply fertiliser), 过量施肥 (over-fertilisation).

Examples

1. 为减少农业面源污染对周边水体的影响，地方政府推行精准施肥技术，引导农民依据土壤检测结果科学选用和控量使用肥料。 To reduce the impact of agricultural runoff pollution on nearby waterways, local governments have promoted precision fertilization, guiding farmers to choose and limit fertilizer use based on soil test results.
2. 这家企业依托先进的生物发酵技术，将大量城市有机废弃物转化为高品质有机肥料，在完成固废资源化利用的同时实现了良好的经济效益。 Using advanced bio-fermentation technology, the company converts large amounts of urban organic waste into high-quality organic fertilizer, achieving both solid-waste recycling and strong economic returns.
3. 化学肥料的大规模推广在显著提升粮食单产的同时，也引发了土壤板结和地力退化等一系列长期生态问题，令农学界深感忧虑。 While the widespread use of chemical fertilizers significantly boosted crop yields, it also triggered long-term ecological problems such as soil compaction and declining soil fertility, deeply worrying agronomists.

Usage Guide

Context: agriculture, environment, science, horticulture

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 有机肥料既能为农作物提供均衡营养，又能改善土壤结构、增加有益微生物，提升土地的长期生产能力。(Organic fertilizer can provide crops with balanced nutrients, improve soil structure, increase beneficial microorganisms, and strengthen the land's long-term productivity.)
• 研究表明，轮作配合精准施用肥料，可在不减产的前提下减少约三分之一的用量，对保护水环境很重要。(Studies show that crop rotation combined with precise fertilizer use can cut fertilizer use by about one third without reducing yield, which is important for protecting water environments.)

Don't Say

• 肥料 interchangeably with 化肥 in all contexts — 肥料 is the general term for all fertilisers; 化肥 specifically refers to chemical/synthetic fertilisers; be precise when the distinction matters in technical or policy contexts

Origin & History

肥 (fat; fertile; rich) + 料 (material; substance) — a substance that makes the soil fertile

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal