化肥

• Pinyin: huà féi
• Hanzi breakdown: 化 = 亻+ 匕 (transform/chemical); 肥 = 月 + 巴 (fat/fertile)

Meaning

Chemical fertilizer; synthetically produced fertilizer used in agriculture to supply nutrients to crops.

Includes nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers. Contrasted with organic fertilizer (有机肥). Overuse is a major environmental concern due to soil degradation and water pollution.

Examples

1. 过量施用化肥会导致土壤板结，影响农作物的正常生长。 Overusing chemical fertilizer can compact the soil and affect crops’ normal growth.
2. 政府鼓励农民减少化肥用量，推广有机农业模式。 The government encourages farmers to reduce their use of chemical fertilizer and promote organic farming models.
3. 化肥工业是现代农业体系不可或缺的重要组成部分。 The chemical fertilizer industry is an indispensable part of the modern agricultural system.

Usage Guide

Context: agriculture, environment, science

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 科学合理地使用化肥是提高粮食产量的关键措施。(Using chemical fertilizers scientifically and rationally is a key measure for increasing grain yields.)
• 该地区正在推广以有机肥替代化肥的绿色农业模式。(The region is promoting a green agriculture model replacing chemical fertilizers with organic ones.)

Don't Say

• 化肥 to refer to natural compost or manure — use 有机肥 or 农家肥 for organic and natural fertilizers

Origin & History

化 (chemical/transform) + 肥 (fertilizer/fat)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal