消毒

• 拼音: xiāo dú
• 汉字拆解: 消 = 氵 (water) + 肖 (resemble), meaning to eliminate; 毒 = 毋 (not) + 母 (mother) modified, meaning poison

含义

To disinfect; to sterilize; disinfection. The process of killing harmful microorganisms.

Used in medical, household, and public health contexts. Common collocations include 消毒液 (disinfectant), 消毒柜 (sterilizing cabinet), 酒精消毒 (alcohol disinfection), and 紫外线消毒 (UV sterilization). Became especially common vocabulary after COVID-19.

例句

1. 医院的手术器具都要经过严格消毒。
2. 请用酒精给伤口消毒。
3. 疫情期间，大家都养成了勤消毒的习惯。

用法指南

语境: health, hygiene

语气: practical

正确说法

• 出门回来要记得给手消毒。(Remember to disinfect your hands when you come back from outside.)
• 餐具已经消毒过了。(The tableware has been sterilized.)

错误说法

• 我要消毒我的心 (消毒 is for physical disinfection — for emotional cleansing, use other expressions)

起源与历史

Compound of 消 (to eliminate) and 毒 (poison, toxin), literally meaning to eliminate toxins.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal