灰尘

• Pinyin: huī chén
• Hanzi breakdown: 灰 = 火 + 又 (fire + hand, ash left after fire); 尘 = 小 + 土 (small + earth, fine earth particles)

Meaning

Dust; fine particles of dirt or debris that settle on surfaces.

Refers to the fine dry particles that accumulate on surfaces over time. Used both literally and metaphorically. Metaphorically, 灰尘 can represent the passage of time, neglect, or obscured memory (as in objects covered in dust suggesting long disuse).

Examples

1. 书架上积满了灰尘，显然已经很久没有人整理过了。 The bookshelf was covered in dust, clearly untouched for a long time.
2. 一阵强风吹过，路面上的灰尘腾空而起，弥漫在整条街道上。 A strong gust of wind swept through, kicking up dust from the road and filling the entire street.
3. 她轻轻拂去旧照片上的灰尘，凝视着照片中年轻时候的自己，陷入了深深的沉思。 She gently brushed the dust off an old photo and stared at her younger self, lost in deep thought.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, environment, literature

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 施工现场周围灰尘弥漫，附近居民反映空气质量严重下降，已影响到日常生活。(The construction site was surrounded by dense dust, and nearby residents reported a serious decline in air quality that had begun to affect their daily lives.)
• 她定期清洁电脑内部，防止灰尘积聚影响散热效果，延长设备的使用寿命。(She cleaned the inside of her computer regularly to prevent dust from accumulating and affecting heat dissipation, thereby extending the device's lifespan.)

Don't Say

• 灰尘 to describe sand or gravel — use 沙子 or 碎石 for coarser particles; 灰尘 specifically refers to fine dry dust

Origin & History

灰 (ash/grey) + 尘 (dust/fine particles) — ash-like fine dust

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal