Together, 空气 (kōngqì) literally translates to “sky gas,” the most common word for “air.” 污染 (wūrǎn) combines “dirty” and “to stain” to mean “pollution” or “to pollute.” The entire term, 空气污染, therefore has the clear and unambiguous meaning of “air pollution.”
While air pollution is a global issue, the term 空气污染 (kōngqì wūrǎn) holds a particularly strong weight in contemporary China due to the country's rapid industrialization over the past few decades. For many English speakers, “air pollution” might be a somewhat abstract news topic or a political issue. In China, especially during the 2010s, it became a tangible, daily reality that dictated life choices. It wasn't just on the news; it was outside the window. This led to a level of public awareness and daily conversation that is less common in the West. Unlike a Westerner who might casually check the weather, it became routine for people in major Chinese cities to check the Air Quality Index (空气质量指数 - kōngqì zhìliàng zhǐshù) on their phones before deciding whether to go for a run, let their children play outside, or wear a mask (`口罩`). The term is less of a scientific concept and more of a practical, everyday concern. The collective experience of dealing with severe smog has deeply embedded 空气污染 and related terms like 雾霾 (wùmái) into the modern Chinese lexicon and social consciousness. The government's subsequent “war on pollution” has also made it a key term in policy and national goals, with the desire for a 蓝天 (lántiān), or “blue sky,” becoming a powerful symbol of progress.
空气污染 (kōngqì wūrǎn) is a neutral, standard term used across all levels of formality.