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A2 verb #4,000 más común 8 min de lectura

传染

chuánrǎn Top 4,000

Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos 传染 en 30 segundos

Explicación 传染 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you only need to know that 传染 (chuánrǎn) relates to catching a sickness from someone else. Think of it as 'passing a cold.' You might hear a teacher say 'Don't come to school if you are sick because you might 传染 (infect) others.' It's a simple concept of 'A gives a germ to B.' You don't need to worry about complex grammar yet. Just remember that if you have a cold (感冒 gǎnmào), you should stay away from friends so you don't 传染 them. You can think of the first character 传 as 'passing a ball' and the second character 染 as 'coloring something.' So, you are 'passing the color' of your sickness to someone else. It is a very useful word for basic health and hygiene conversations. Even at this early stage, knowing '传染' helps you understand why people wear masks in Asian countries—they are trying not to 传染 others.

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At the A2 level, you should start using 传染 (chuánrǎn) in basic sentences. The most important pattern to learn is 'A 传染给 B' (A infects B). For example, 'He infected me with a cold' is '他把感冒传染给了我.' Notice the use of '给' (gěi), which means 'to.' You are giving the sickness to someone. You should also know the adjective-like form '传染病' (chuánrǎn bìng), which means 'infectious disease.' If you are traveling and feel sick, you can ask a doctor '这病传染吗？' (Is this disease contagious?). This level also introduces the idea that 传染 isn't always about germs; it can be about emotions. If your friend is very happy and it makes you happy too, you can say their happiness is '传染' to you. It’s a versatile word that helps you describe how things spread between people in your daily life.

By B1, you should be comfortable using 传染 (chuánrǎn) in more complex grammar structures, such as the passive voice with 被 (bèi). For example, '我被他传染了' (I was infected by him). You should also understand the difference between 传染 and 感染 (gǎnrǎn). Remember: 传染 is the act of spreading, while 感染 is the state of being affected. At this level, you will encounter the word in news reports or short articles about health. You should also start using the term '传染性' (chuánrǎn xìng) to discuss the 'infectiousness' of something. For instance, '这种感冒的传染性很强' (The infectiousness of this cold is very strong). You can also use it more figuratively to describe the spread of habits or social trends within a small group, moving beyond just simple physical illnesses.

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At the B2 level, 传染 (chuánrǎn) appears in more formal and academic contexts. You will see it in discussions about public health policy, epidemiology, and psychology. You should be able to discuss '传染源' (source of infection) and '传染途径' (transmission route). You will also use it metaphorically to describe market trends or social phenomena. For example, 'panic' (恐慌 kǒnghuāng) can 传染 through a stock market. You should be able to distinguish between 传染 and other 'spreading' words like 传播 (disseminate) and 扩散 (diffuse). In a B2 essay, you might write about how 'positive energy' (正能量) can 传染 within a community to improve social harmony. Your usage should be precise, recognizing that 传染 usually implies a direct, person-to-person or host-to-host transfer of a state or substance.

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At the C1 level, your use of 传染 (chuánrǎn) should be nuanced and sophisticated. You will explore its use in literature and high-level social commentary. You might analyze how 'cultural memes' or 'ideologies' 传染 through a population like a virus. You should be familiar with idioms and fixed expressions that involve the concept of transmission. You will understand how the word is used in historical contexts, such as the spread of the Black Death or the Spanish Flu, using professional terminology. You should also be able to discuss the ethics of 传染, such as the responsibility of an individual to prevent spreading a disease. In professional medical or psychological Chinese, you will use 传染 to describe 'emotional contagion' in clinical settings. Your vocabulary will include related technical terms like '易感人群' (susceptible population) and '潜伏期' (incubation period) often used alongside 传染.

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At the C2 level, you have a masterly grasp of 传染 (chuánrǎn) and its place in the Chinese linguistic landscape. You can use it in philosophical debates about the nature of influence and the 'contagion' of thought. You understand its etymological roots in depth and how the meaning of the characters has evolved over millennia. You can use the word in highly formal speeches, legal documents regarding public health, or complex scientific papers. You are also aware of the subtle rhetorical power of the word—how calling an idea '传染性' can either be a compliment (it's catchy) or a criticism (it's like a disease). You can effortlessly navigate between its literal biological meaning and its most abstract metaphorical applications, using it to describe everything from the spread of a revolutionary spirit to the cascading failure of a global financial system.

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Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos

传染 en 30 segundos

传染 (chuánrǎn) means 'to infect' or 'to be contagious,' used for both biological diseases and social/emotional spread.
Commonly used in the pattern 'A 传染给 B' (A infects B) or '被...传染' (be infected by).
It is an A2 level word essential for discussing health, hygiene, and social influence.
Can be used metaphorically for laughter, panic, habits, and viral trends.

The Chinese word 传染 (chuánrǎn) is a cornerstone of both medical and social vocabulary, primarily functioning as a verb that means 'to infect' or 'to be contagious.' At its most fundamental level, it describes the biological process where a pathogen—be it a virus, bacteria, or parasite—moves from one host to another. However, the linguistic beauty of 传染 lies in its versatility; it is not confined to the sterile walls of a hospital. In Mandarin, just as in English, emotions, habits, and even yawns can be 'infectious.' When you use 传染, you are describing a process of transmission. The character 传 (chuán) means to pass on, to hand down, or to spread, while 染 (rǎn) means to dye, to soil, or to catch a disease. Together, they paint a vivid picture of a 'spreading stain' or a 'passed-on influence.' You will hear this word most frequently during flu seasons, in health class, or when describing someone with a particularly bubbly personality whose joy is spreading to everyone in the room.

Medical Context: Used to describe the transmission of diseases like the flu, COVID-19, or common colds between individuals. Example: 这种病不会传染给人类 (This disease will not infect humans).
Social Context: Used to describe the spread of non-biological things like laughter, panic, or enthusiasm. Example: 她的笑容很有传染力 (Her smile is very infectious).

如果你感冒了，请戴上口罩，以免传染给别人。

Understanding the nuance between 传染 and similar words like 感染 (gǎnrǎn - to be infected/affected by) is crucial for A2 learners. While 传染 focuses on the act of passing the disease from A to B, 感染 often focuses on the state of the person who has caught it. If you say 'He was infected,' you use 感染. If you say 'He infected me,' you use 传染. In the digital age, 传染 is also occasionally used to describe 'viral' content, though 走红 (zǒuhóng) or 疯传 (fēngchuán) are more common for internet memes. However, the underlying concept of rapid, uncontrollable spread remains the same. Whether you are talking about a seasonal cough or a wave of optimism in a company, 传染 is your go-to verb for the movement of influence or illness.

恐慌情绪在人群中迅速传染开来。

Grammar Note: 传染 is often followed by the preposition 给 (gěi) to indicate the recipient of the infection: A 传染给 B.

Using 传染 correctly requires understanding its sentence patterns. The most basic structure is 'Disease + 传染' (The disease is infectious). For example, '流感会传染' (The flu is contagious). However, as a learner, you will more often use the transitive form: 'Person A + 传染给 + Person B' (A infects B). For instance, '弟弟把感冒传染给了我' (My younger brother passed his cold to me). Note the use of the 把 (bǎ) construction here, which is extremely common when describing the transfer of an illness. Another common pattern is 'Something + 具有 + 传染性' (Something possesses infectiousness). This is a more formal way to say something is contagious. For example, '这种病毒具有极强的传染性' (This virus is highly contagious). In metaphorical uses, the structure remains similar. '她的快乐传染了身边的每一个人' (Her happiness infected everyone around her). Here, 传染 acts directly on the object without the need for 给. You can also use it in the passive voice with 被 (bèi): '我被他传染了' (I was infected by him). This is a very common way to complain about catching a friend's illness.

别离我太近，我怕把感冒传染给你。

Structure 1: A 传染给 B: Focuses on the direction of the spread. Used for diseases and emotions.
Structure 2: 被...传染: Focuses on the victim catching the illness. Passive voice.

When discussing public health, you might see 传染 used in compound nouns like 传染源 (source of infection) or 传染途径 (route of transmission). These are vital for higher-level reading comprehension. For A2 learners, focus on the 'A 传染给 B' and '被 A 传染' patterns. These cover 90% of daily conversations. Remember that 传染 can also be used for 'bad habits.' If a group of students starts using slang or being lazy, a teacher might say '这种坏习惯会传染' (This bad habit is contagious). This highlights the word's ability to describe the social spread of behaviors.

打哈欠是真的会传染的。

You will encounter 传染 in a variety of real-world scenarios. The most obvious is the medical setting. In Chinese hospitals (医院) or clinics (诊所), doctors will use this word to explain the nature of an illness. If you go to the doctor with a skin rash, you might ask, '这病传染吗？' (Is this disease contagious?). On news broadcasts, especially during a pandemic or flu season, 传染 is used incessantly to discuss transmission rates and public safety measures. You'll hear phrases like '人传人' (rén chuán rén), which literally means 'human-to-human transmission,' a term that became globally recognized during the COVID-19 era. Beyond health, you'll hear it in schools. Teachers often warn parents: '如果孩子感冒了，请留在家中，以免传染给其他同学' (If your child has a cold, please keep them at home to avoid infecting other students). In a social context, it’s used to compliment someone’s energy. If someone is laughing heartily, a friend might say, '你的笑声太有传染力了！' (Your laughter is so infectious!). This is a high compliment, implying the person brings joy to others. You also hear it in psychological discussions regarding 'emotional contagion' (情绪传染), where the mood of a leader or a parent affects the entire group. In literature and film, 传染 might be used metaphorically to describe the spread of ideas—both good and bad. For example, the 'spirit of revolution' or 'fear' can be described as 传染. In the workplace, a boss might worry that one employee's negative attitude will 传染 the whole team. Therefore, while it starts with biology, its reach extends into every corner of human interaction where one person can influence another.

这种病毒主要是通过空气传染的。

News Media: Frequent reports on 传染病 (infectious diseases) and prevention measures.
Daily Life: Warnings about colds, sharing food, or praising someone's vibe.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make is confusing 传染 (chuánrǎn) with 感染 (gǎnrǎn). While both relate to 'infection,' their usage is distinct. 传染 is about the *transmission* from one person to another. 感染 is about the *state* of being infected or the process of a pathogen entering the body. If you want to say 'I caught a cold from him,' you should say '我被他传染了' or '他把感冒传染给了我.' If you say '我感染了感冒,' it sounds a bit like 'I have been infected with a cold,' which is grammatically okay but less natural in daily speech than using 传染 or simply saying '我感冒了.' Another mistake is using 传染 when you mean 'to spread' in a general sense (like spreading butter or spreading news). For news, use 传播 (chuánbō). If you say '传染新闻,' people will think the news is a disease! Furthermore, students often forget the preposition 给 (gěi). You cannot just say '他传染我'; it must be '他传染给了我' or '他把病传染给我.' Another nuance is the difference between 传染 and 遗传 (yíchuán). 遗传 means 'to inherit' (genetically). If you say your height was '传染' from your father, it implies your father's height is a disease you caught! Use 遗传 for genetics. Lastly, be careful with the word order in passive sentences. '我传染了他' means 'I infected him,' while '我被他传染了' means 'I was infected by him.' Getting these reversed can lead to some awkward apologies!

传染 vs. 感染: 传染 = Spread/Contagion (A to B). 感染 = Infected/Affected (The state of having it).
传染 vs. 传播: 传染 = Diseases/Emotions. 传播 = Information/Culture/Seeds.

错误：他把这个消息传染给了大家。
正确：他把这个消息传播给了大家。

To truly master 传染, you should know its synonyms and related terms. The most direct relative is 感染 (gǎnrǎn). While 传染 is 'to infect others,' 感染 is 'to be infected' or 'to be moved/influenced by.' For example, '被他的热情所感染' (to be moved by his passion). Another similar word is 传播 (chuánbō), which means 'to spread' or 'to disseminate.' This is used for information, culture, or knowledge. You wouldn't say 'infect knowledge,' you would say '传播知识.' Then there is 扩散 (kuòsàn), meaning 'to diffuse' or 'to proliferate,' often used for gases, light, or the spread of a disease within a population (like an outbreak spreading to other cities). For skin conditions or things that spread over a surface, you might use 蔓延 (mànyán). If you are looking for a more formal, medical term for 'transmission,' you might encounter 输送 (shūsòng - transport/convey) or 播散 (bōsàn - disseminate), but these are rare in daily life. In slang or informal speech, you might just say '传' (chuán). For example, '这病传得快' (This disease spreads fast). Understanding these distinctions helps you choose the right 'spread' for the right 'thing.'

感染 (gǎnrǎn): Use when the focus is on the person feeling the effect or the internal biological process of infection.
传播 (chuánbō): Use for news, ideas, or media. It is more neutral than 传染.

对比：
1. 这种病会传染。(Focus on transmission)
2. 伤口被感染了。(Focus on the state of the wound)

How Formal Is It?

Dato curioso

The character 染 (rǎn) contains the components for 'water' (氵), 'nine' (九), and 'wood' (木). Historically, this referred to the nine times wood-based dyes were applied with water to get a deep color.

Guía de pronunciación

UK /tʃwæn.ɻæn/

US /tʃwæn.ɻæn/

The stress is relatively even, but the tone changes are the most important part for clarity.

Rima con

船 (chuán) 懒 (lǎn) 简 (jiǎn) 脸 (liǎn) 点 (diǎn) 眼 (yǎn) 见 (jiàn) 变 (biàn)

Errores comunes

Pronouncing 'chuán' as 'juán' (wrong initial).
Mixing up the tones: 'chuán' (2nd tone) and 'rǎn' (3rd tone).
Pronouncing 'rǎn' like the English word 'ran' (it should be more like 'rah-n' with a Chinese 'r').

Nivel de dificultad

Lectura 3/5

The characters are common but 染 has many strokes for a beginner.

Escritura 4/5

Writing 染 correctly requires attention to the water and wood components.

Expresión oral 2/5

The pronunciation is straightforward if tones are mastered.

Escucha 3/5

Can be confused with 感染 in fast speech.

Qué aprender después

Requisitos previos

感冒 (Cold) 病 (Sickness) 给 (To/Give) 传 (Pass)

Aprende después

感染 (Infect) 预防 (Prevent) 病毒 (Virus) 健康 (Health)

Avanzado

流行病学 (Epidemiology) 潜伏期 (Incubation period) 抗体 (Antibody)

Gramática que debes saber

The '把' (bǎ) Construction with 传染

我把感冒传染给了他。 (I passed the cold to him.)

The '被' (bèi) Passive Voice

他被我传染了。 (He was infected by me.)

Using '会' (huì) for Probability

这种病会传染。 (This disease can/will be contagious.)

Adjective Suffix '性' (xìng)

这种病毒的传染性很强。 (The contagiousness of this virus is strong.)

Directional Complement '开来' (kāilái)

消息传染开来了。 (The news spread out/infected everyone.)

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Ejemplos por nivel

他感冒了，怕传染给我。

He has a cold and is afraid of infecting me.

Uses '传染给' (infect to).

这病不传染。

This disease is not contagious.

Simple negation '不' + verb.

别传染给我！

Don't infect me!

Imperative '别' (don't).

洗手可以预防传染。

Washing hands can prevent infection.

'可以' (can) + '预防' (prevent).

你会传染别人。

You will infect others.

'会' indicates future possibility.

猫会传染这种病吗？

Can cats infect (people) with this disease?

Question with '吗'.

我怕被传染。

I am afraid of being infected.

Passive voice with '被'.

感冒很容易传染。

Colds are very easy to spread.

'容易' (easy) + verb.

他把感冒传染给了全家人。

He infected the whole family with his cold.

'把' construction: A 把 [disease] 传染给 B.

笑容是可以传染的。

Smiles are contagious.

Metaphorical use of '传染'.

这种传染病很严重。

This infectious disease is very serious.

'传染病' as a compound noun.

医生说这病不会传染。

The doctor said this disease is not contagious.

Reported speech.

我们要防止疾病传染。

We need to prevent the spread of disease.

'防止' (prevent) + noun phrase.

我不小心被他传染了。

I accidentally got infected by him.

'不小心' (accidentally) + '被' (passive).

打哈欠真的会传染吗？

Do yawns really spread?

Question about a common phenomenon.

这种病毒传染得很快。

This virus spreads very quickly.

'得' complement of degree.

情绪是会互相传染的。

Emotions can infect one another.

'互相' (mutually/each other).

这种药可以切断传染途径。

This medicine can cut off the route of infection.

'传染途径' (transmission route).

他担心把负能量传染给同事。

He worries about spreading negative energy to his colleagues.

'负能量' (negative energy) as the object.

为了不传染别人，他戴上了口罩。

In order not to infect others, he put on a mask.

'为了' (in order to) + '不' (not).

这种皮肤病并不传染。

This skin disease is actually not contagious.

'并不' emphasizes the negation.

快乐是一种很有传染力的情绪。

Happiness is a very infectious emotion.

'传染力' (infectious power/force).

一旦有人生病，很快就会传染开来。

Once someone gets sick, it will soon spread out.

'一旦...就...' (once... then...).

我们要找到传染源。

We need to find the source of infection.

'传染源' (source of infection).

恐慌在人群中迅速传染。

Panic spread rapidly through the crowd.

Metaphorical use with '迅速' (rapidly).

哈欠的传染性在科学上仍有争议。

The contagiousness of yawning is still scientifically debated.

'传染性' (contagiousness) as a noun.

这种病毒通过空气传染的可能性很大。

There is a high possibility that this virus is transmitted through the air.

'的可能性' (possibility of).

他的乐观精神传染了整个团队。

His optimism infected the entire team.

Abstract object '精神' (spirit).

学校采取了措施防止流感传染。

The school took measures to prevent the spread of the flu.

'采取措施' (take measures).

这种观念像病毒一样传染了年轻人。

This idea infected young people like a virus.

Simile '像...一样'.

水源被污染是这种传染病的主因。

Contaminated water sources are the main cause of this infectious disease.

'主因' (main cause).

他不仅自己努力，还把这种劲头传染给了大家。

He not only works hard himself but also infects everyone with this vigor.

'不仅...还...' (not only... but also...)

焦虑情绪在社交媒体上极易传染。

Anxiety is extremely easy to spread on social media.

'极易' (extremely easy).

这种思想的传染力远超我们的想象。

The infectious power of this thought far exceeds our imagination.

'远超' (far exceed).

流行病学专家正在研究其传染机制。

Epidemiologists are studying its transmission mechanism.

'传染机制' (transmission mechanism).

这种狂热在某种程度上具有传染性。

This fanaticism is contagious to some extent.

'在某种程度上' (to some extent).

我们要警惕不良风气的传染。

We must be vigilant against the spread of unhealthy trends.

'警惕' (be vigilant).

哈欠传染被认为与共情能力有关。

Yawn contagion is thought to be related to empathy.

'被认为' (be considered to).

该病毒的传染链条已被切断。

The transmission chain of the virus has been cut off.

'传染链条' (transmission chain).

这种悲观情绪具有极强的社会传染性。

This pessimism has extremely strong social contagiousness.

'社会传染性' (social contagiousness).

这种话语体系在学术界迅速传染开来。

This discourse system spread rapidly throughout academia.

Highly abstract use of '传染'.

恐慌的传染往往比病毒本身更具破坏性。

The contagion of panic is often more destructive than the virus itself.

Comparative '比...更'.

我们需要深入探讨情感传染的生物学基础。

We need to deeply explore the biological basis of emotional contagion.

'深入探讨' (deeply explore).

这种审美倾向在短视频平台呈现传染式爆发。

This aesthetic trend is showing a contagious outbreak on short video platforms.

'呈现...爆发' (presenting an outbreak).

该传染病在历史上曾导致文明的覆灭。

This infectious disease once led to the downfall of civilizations in history.

'导致...覆灭' (lead to downfall).

信息时代的谎言传染速度惊人。

The speed at which lies spread in the information age is staggering.

'传染速度' (transmission speed).

这种心理传染机制是群体行为的核心。

This psychological contagion mechanism is at the core of group behavior.

'群体行为' (group behavior).

他试图阻止那种失败主义情绪的传染。

He tried to stop the spread of that defeatist sentiment.

'失败主义' (defeatism).

Colocaciones comunes

传染病

传染源

传染途径

传染性

互相传染

被传染

传染给

情绪传染

广泛传染

交叉传染

Frases Comunes

传染力

— The power or ability to infect or influence others.

他的笑声很有传染力。

人传人

— Human-to-human transmission.

该病毒已经证实可以人传人。

空气传染

— Airborne transmission.

这种感冒主要是空气传染。

接触传染

— Transmission through contact.

我们要避免接触传染。

不传染

— Not contagious.

别担心，这种过敏不传染。

容易传染

— Easy to catch/infect.

冬天流感很容易传染。

传染链

— Transmission chain.

我们要切断传染链。

传染媒介

— Vector of infection.

蚊子是很多疾病的传染媒介。

社区传染

— Community transmission.

该地区出现了社区传染。

全球传染

— Global transmission/pandemic.

防止病毒在全球传染。

Se confunde a menudo con

传染 vs 感染

Focuses on the state of the host (being infected).

传染 vs 传播

Used for information or media, not usually for biological infection.

传染 vs 遗传

Refers to genetic inheritance, not catching a disease.

Modismos y expresiones

"耳濡目染"

— To be deeply influenced by what one frequently hears and sees. Similar to 'social infection.'

他从小耳濡目染，也爱上了画画。

Literary

"近朱者赤，近墨者黑"

— Proximity to good/bad influences changes a person. Like a moral '传染.'

交友要慎重，因为近朱者赤，近墨者黑。

Common

"一传十，十传百"

— Information or disease spreading rapidly from person to person.

这个消息一传十，十传百，大家都知道了。

Colloquial

"染指其中"

— To have a hand in something (usually bad), deriving from the 'stain' of 染.

他不该染指这件事。

Formal

"出淤泥而不染"

— To emerge from a dirty environment without being 'infected' or stained.

他为人清白，真是出淤泥而不染。

Literary

"风卷残云"

— Spreading or sweeping through like a wind, sometimes used for rapid spread.

他的影响力如风卷残云般传染开来。

Literary

"流言蜚语"

— Rumors that spread like an infection.

不要听信那些流言蜚语。

Neutral

"满城风雨"

— A situation that has become a scandal and 'infected' the whole city's talk.

这件事闹得满城风雨。

Literary

"潜移默化"

— A subtle, 'infectious' influence over time.

好的老师能对学生产生潜移默化的影响。

Formal

"众口铄金"

— Public opinion spreading so strongly it can melt metal (or ruin a person).

众口铄金，流言真的会传染。

Literary

Fácil de confundir

传染 vs 感染

Both involve germs.

传染 is the 'giving' of the germ; 感染 is the 'receiving' or the biological reaction.

他传染了我，所以我感染了病毒。

传染 vs 传播

Both mean 'to spread.'

传播 is for news/culture; 传染 is for diseases/emotions.

我们要传播知识，而不是传染病毒。

传染 vs 传递

Both mean passing something.

传递 is a physical or intentional hand-off (passing a baton); 传染 is usually unintentional and biological.

传递火炬，而不是传染疾病。

传染 vs 漫延

Both mean spreading.

漫延 often describes water or physical spread over a surface; 传染 is for pathogens.

洪水在蔓延，疾病在传染。

传染 vs 扩散

Both involve things moving outwards.

扩散 is for particles, gases, or cancer cells; 传染 is between people.

烟雾扩散，流感传染。

Patrones de oraciones

A 传染 B。

他传染我。 (He infected me - Simplified).

A 把 [病] 传染给 B。

他把感冒传染给我。

A 被 B 传染了。

我被他传染了。

[Something] 具有传染性。

这种笑声具有传染性。

[Something] 传染开来。

流言传染开来了。

通过...途径传染。

通过空气途径传染。

[Abstract Concept] 的传染。

恐慌情绪的传染。

呈现传染式...

呈现传染式增长。

Familia de palabras

Sustantivos

传染病 (Infectious disease)

传染源 (Source of infection)

传染性 (Contagiousness)

传染途径 (Transmission route)

Verbos

传染 (To infect)

Adjetivos

传染性的 (Infectious)

Relacionado

感染 (Infect/Affect)

传播 (Spread)

遗传 (Inherit)

染色 (Dye)

传说 (Legend)

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Cómo usarlo

frequency

Common in daily life, especially during winter or health crises.

Errores comunes

我传染了感冒。 → 我感冒了。/ 我被传染了感冒。
You don't 'infect' a cold; you 'have' a cold or 'are infected' by one.
他传染我。 → 他把病传染给了我。
Needs '给' or the '把' construction for better flow.
这个消息传染得很快。 → 这个消息传播得很快。
News 'spreads' (传播), it doesn't 'infect' (传染) unless you mean it metaphorically as a disease.
我的身高是爸爸传染的。 → 我的身高是爸爸遗传的。
Genetics is 遗传, not 传染.
传染病很容易感染。 → 传染病很容易传染。
While '感染' is related, the disease itself '传染' (spreads).

Consejos

The 'Stain' Rule

Remember the '染' (dye/stain) part. If you can imagine it as a 'stain' spreading, use 传染.

Don't forget '给'

When there is a recipient, '传染给' is the most natural structure.

Positive vs. Negative

Use it for laughter to sound more like a native speaker.

Mask Culture

Understanding this word helps you understand why masks are so common in China.

Tone Check

Make sure the 3rd tone in 'rǎn' is deep enough, or it might sound like 'rán' (burn).

Compound Nouns

Learn '传染病' as one single block of vocabulary.

Passive Power

Using '被...传染' is the most common way to say you got sick from someone.

Medical Situations

If a doctor says '不传染', you can relax!

Emotional Contagion

Use '情绪传染' to talk about how a bad mood in the office affects everyone.

Keyword Spotting

In news, if you hear '传染', pay attention to the '途径' (route) mentioned right after.

Memorízalo

Mnemotecnia

'Chuán' is like a 'Train' passing by, and 'Rǎn' is like 'Ran' (running into a stain). The train passes the stain to you!

Asociación visual

Imagine a person in a bright red shirt (the infection) hugging someone in a white shirt, and the red color 'bleeding' onto the white shirt.

Word Web

Infect Spread Disease Laughter Contagious Virus Germs Transmission

Desafío

Try to use 传染 in three different ways today: once about a cold, once about a yawn, and once about a friend's good mood.

Origen de la palabra

The word is composed of two characters: 传 (chuán) and 染 (rǎn). 传 dates back to ancient scripts representing a person passing a record or object to another. 染 originally depicted dyeing cloth in a vat of color.

Significado original: To pass on a 'stain' or 'color' from one person to another.

Sino-Tibetan / Sinitic.

Contexto cultural

Be careful when using 传染 regarding people with chronic illnesses like HIV/AIDS; 感染 is often preferred as it is more clinical and less stigmatizing than 'passing a stain.'

English speakers often use 'catch' or 'pass on.' In Chinese, 传染 is the formal and informal standard for 'pass on.'

The 2003 SARS outbreak in China significantly increased the daily usage of this word. The movie 'Contagion' is translated as '传染病' in Chinese.

Practica en la vida real

Contextos reales

At the Hospital

这个病传染吗？ (Is this contagious?)
它是怎么传染的？ (How is it transmitted?)
传染源在哪里？ (Where is the source?)
我们要防止交叉传染。 (We need to prevent cross-infection.)

In the Classroom

生病了不要传染给同学。 (Don't infect classmates if you're sick.)
打哈欠会传染。 (Yawns are contagious.)
好习惯也会传染。 (Good habits are also contagious.)
请戴上口罩。 (Please wear a mask.)

Talking about Emotions

她的快乐传染了我。 (Her joy infected me.)
不要让悲观情绪传染。 (Don't let pessimism spread.)
笑声很有传染力。 (Laughter is very infectious.)
大家都被他的热情传染了。 (Everyone was infected by his passion.)

In the News

传染病爆发。 (Infectious disease outbreak.)
切断传染途径。 (Cut off transmission routes.)
人传人风险。 (Risk of human-to-human transmission.)
全球传染预警。 (Global transmission alert.)

Daily Hygiene

勤洗手防传染。 (Wash hands often to prevent infection.)
公筷可以减少传染。 (Serving chopsticks can reduce infection.)
室内通风防传染。 (Ventilate rooms to prevent infection.)
别喝他的水，会传染。 (Don't drink his water, it'll infect you.)

Inicios de conversación

"你觉得打哈欠真的会传染吗？ (Do you think yawning is really contagious?)"

"如果同事感冒了还来上班，你会担心被传染吗？ (If a colleague has a cold and comes to work, do you worry about being infected?)"

"你认为快乐这种情绪是可以传染的吗？ (Do you believe happiness as an emotion can be contagious?)"

"在你的国家，人们怎么预防传染病？ (In your country, how do people prevent infectious diseases?)"

"你有没有被别人的坏习惯传染过？ (Have you ever been 'infected' by someone else's bad habits?)"

Temas para diario

写一写你最近一次感冒是被谁传染的。 (Write about who infected you the last time you had a cold.)

讨论一下为什么笑声具有传染力。 (Discuss why laughter is infectious.)

如果你发现一种新的传染病，你会怎么做？ (If you discovered a new infectious disease, what would you do?)

谈谈社交媒体如何‘传染’焦虑。 (Talk about how social media 'infects' anxiety.)

描述一个你认为最有传染力的人。 (Describe a person you think is the most infectious.)

Preguntas frecuentes

10 preguntas

While technically '感染' (infect) is used for files, people sometimes say '传染' informally to describe a virus spreading through a network. However, '传播' is better for the movement of the virus.

No! You can use it for '传染快乐' (spreading happiness) or '传染笑声' (infectious laughter). In these cases, it is very positive.

传染 is the verb (to infect), while 传染性 is the noun/adjective (infectiousness/contagiousness).

You say '这病传染吗？' (Zhè bìng chuánrǎn ma?).

No, use 遗传 (yíchuán) for things like eye color or height passed from parents to children.

It means 'human-to-human transmission,' a common phrase in news regarding outbreaks.

It is neutral and used in both medical textbooks and daily chatter.

It can be intransitive (这病会传染) or transitive (他传染了我).

It is a specialized hospital for infectious diseases.

'我是被他传染的' (Wǒ shì bèi tā chuánrǎn de).

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