灌溉

• Pinyin: guàn gài
• Hanzi breakdown: 灌 = 氵+ 雚 (pour water); 溉 = 氵+ 既 (water + already complete — rinse thoroughly)

Meaning

To irrigate. The process of artificially supplying water to land or crops to support agricultural production.

A key term in Chinese agricultural policy and environmental science. Commonly paired with 农业灌溉 (agricultural irrigation), 节水灌溉 (water-saving irrigation), and 灌溉系统 (irrigation system). Significant in discussions of food security, water resource management, and rural development.

Examples

1. 这片干旱地区依靠引水渠道进行灌溉，才得以维持正常的农业生产。 This arid region relies on diverted-water canals for irrigation, which is the only reason it can maintain normal agricultural production.
2. 推广节水灌溉技术是应对水资源短缺的有效措施之一。 Promoting water-saving irrigation technology is one effective way to respond to water shortages.
3. 古代劳动人民修建了许多规模宏大的灌溉工程，至今仍发挥着重要作用。 In ancient times, working people built many large-scale irrigation projects, and they still play an important role today.

Usage Guide

Context: agriculture, environment, policy

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 政府拨款支持西北地区修建现代化灌溉设施，以提高粮食产量。(The government allocated funds to support the construction of modern irrigation facilities in the northwest to increase grain production.)
• 滴灌是一种极为高效的节水灌溉方式，在干旱地区广泛应用。(Drip irrigation is an extremely efficient water-saving irrigation method, widely used in arid regions.)

Don't Say

• 我去灌溉花园 — use 浇花 or 给花浇水 for watering garden plants; 灌溉 refers specifically to systematic agricultural or large-scale land irrigation, not casual domestic watering

Origin & History

灌 (to pour water) + 溉 (to rinse, to irrigate). Both components relate to water supply, together forming the agricultural term for systematic watering of land.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal