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B1 verb/adjective #4,500 most common 10 min read

饱和

bǎohé Top 4,500

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 饱和 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 饱和 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you don't need to use the word '饱和' (bǎohé) yet. Instead, you focus on the base character '饱' (bǎo), which means 'full' after eating. You will learn '我饱了' (I am full). Think of '饱和' as a 'grown-up' version of '饱'. Just like you feel full after a big meal and can't eat any more, '饱和' describes a market, a liquid, or a job that is so 'full' it cannot take anything else. At this stage, just remember that '饱' is for your stomach, and '饱和' is for things like business or science. You might see it on a phone screen when adjusting photo colors, where it means 'vivid colors.'

For A2 learners, '饱和' (bǎohé) starts to appear in specific contexts like descriptions of colors or simple science. You might learn that '饱和度' (bǎohédù) means color saturation. If you are interested in business, you might hear that a market is '饱和' (full). The key is to understand that it means 'no more space.' For example, if a small town has 10 coffee shops and no one else wants to buy coffee, the market is '饱和.' It is a combination of '饱' (full) and '和' (harmony/balance). It’s a very useful word for talking about why a business might not be growing.

At the B1 level, you should start using '饱和' (bǎohé) in your own speaking and writing, especially when discussing work or the economy. This is a standard CEFR B1 word. You can use it to describe your workload: '我的工作量已经饱和了' (My workload is saturated). This sounds much more professional than saying '我太忙了' (I'm too busy). You will also encounter it in science articles about '饱和脂肪' (saturated fats) or '饱和溶液' (saturated solutions). It is important to notice that it functions as an adjective or a state, usually followed by '了' to show that the limit has been reached.

B2 learners are expected to understand the nuance of '饱和' (bǎohé) in contrast with words like '充斥' (flooded with) or '过剩' (surplus). You should be able to discuss complex topics like '市场饱和' (market saturation) and how it leads to '激烈竞争' (intense competition). You might use it in a debate about urban planning: '城市的人口承载力已经接近饱和' (The city's population carrying capacity is approaching saturation). At this level, you should also be comfortable with the noun form '饱和点' (saturation point) and use it to describe the peak of a trend or a physical process.

At the C1 level, '饱和' (bǎohé) becomes a tool for abstract analysis. You might use it to describe '审美饱和' (aesthetic saturation), where a culture has seen so much of a certain style that it no longer reacts to it. You will see it in high-level literature or academic papers discussing '信息饱和' (information saturation) in the digital age. You should be able to use it metaphorically to describe psychological states or complex social phenomena. For example, '在信息饱和的时代，注意力成为了最稀缺的资源' (In an age of information saturation, attention has become the scarcest resource). You should also understand its use in military or technical strategies like '饱和攻击'.

For C2 mastery, '饱和' (bǎohé) is used with absolute precision across all domains. You can use it to discuss the philosophical implications of a 'saturated' life or society. You understand the subtle differences in tone when it is used in a chemical treatise versus a marketing strategy. You can use phrases like '趋于饱和' (tending towards saturation) or '处于饱和状态' (being in a state of saturation) with perfect grammatical accuracy. At this level, you might also explore the historical development of the term in Chinese scientific translation during the late Qing dynasty and how it helped modernize the Chinese language's ability to express concepts of equilibrium.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

饱和 in 30 Seconds

饱和 (bǎohé) means 'saturated' or 'at full capacity'.
It is used in chemistry, economics, and to describe heavy workloads.
Commonly paired with '市场' (market), '脂肪' (fat), or '状态' (state).
It differs from '饱' (stomach full) and '满' (physically full).

The Chinese term 饱和 (bǎohé) is a sophisticated word that translates most directly to "saturation" or "to be saturated." While it has its roots in the physical sciences, its usage in modern Mandarin has expanded significantly into the realms of economics, technology, and psychology. Understanding this word requires looking at its two constituent characters: 饱 (bǎo), which means 'full' or 'to have eaten one's fill,' and 和 (hé), which in this specific scientific context implies a state of harmony or equilibrium. Together, they describe a state where a system—be it a liquid, a market, or a human mind—has reached its maximum capacity and can no longer absorb or integrate further input.

Chemical Saturation: In a laboratory setting, 饱和溶液 (bǎohé róngyè) refers to a saturated solution. This is the point where a solvent has dissolved the absolute maximum amount of solute possible at a specific temperature. Any additional solute will simply settle at the bottom, unchanged.
Economic Saturation: Economists frequently use 市场饱和 (shìchǎng bǎohé) to describe a situation where a product has been distributed to every possible customer, leaving no room for growth unless old products are replaced or the market is disrupted.
Visual Arts and Tech: In the digital age, 饱和度 (bǎohédù) is the standard term for color saturation. It measures the intensity and purity of a color. A high saturation means the color is vivid and deep, while low saturation leads to muted, grayish tones.

这个城市的共享单车数量已经达到了饱和状态，街道上到处都是车。(The number of shared bikes in this city has reached a state of saturation; there are bikes everywhere on the streets.)

Beyond these technical uses, you will often hear professionals talk about 工作量饱和 (gōngzuòliàng bǎohé). This is a polite way of saying that an employee is completely overwhelmed with work and cannot take on any new tasks. It suggests that their time and energy are fully utilized, much like a sponge that can no longer hold another drop of water.

这种盐在水中的溶解已经达到饱和。(The dissolution of this salt in water has reached saturation.)

Psychological Capacity: When learning a new language, students often feel a sense of 信息饱和 (xìnxī bǎohé)—information overload. This is the point where the brain stops retaining new vocabulary because the cognitive load is too high.

在饱和的市场中，创新是唯一的出路。饱和并不意味着终结，而是转型的开始。(In a saturated market, innovation is the only way out. Saturation doesn't mean the end, but the beginning of transformation.)

这张照片的色彩饱和度太高了，看起来很不自然。(The color saturation of this photo is too high; it looks very unnatural.)

Mastering 饱和 (bǎohé) involves understanding its flexibility as both an adjective and a verb-like state. It rarely takes an object directly like 'to saturate something'; instead, we usually describe a subject as having 'reached' saturation or being in a 'saturated' state. This nuance is critical for sounding natural in Mandarin.

Pattern 1: [Subject] + 已经 (yǐjīng) + 饱和 (bǎohé) + 了 (le): This is the most common way to say something 'is now saturated.' The 'le' at the end indicates a change of state.
Example: 这种产品的市场已经饱和了。(The market for this product is already saturated.)
Pattern 2: [Subject] + 达到 (dádào) + 饱和 (bǎohé): Used to indicate that a specific limit or threshold has been reached.
Example: 招聘人数已经达到了饱和。(The number of recruits has reached saturation/is full.)
Pattern 3: 饱和 (bǎohé) + 的 (de) + [Noun]: When used as an adjective to modify a noun.
Example: 这是一个饱和的市场。(This is a saturated market.)

当空气中的水蒸气达到饱和时，就会形成降雨。(When the water vapor in the air reaches saturation, rain will form.)

In formal writing, specifically in scientific reports or economic analyses, you will encounter the term 饱和点 (bǎohédiǎn), meaning 'saturation point.' This is a fixed noun phrase. For example: '我们必须找到消费的饱和点' (We must find the saturation point of consumption). This structural use highlights how the word functions as a technical anchor in complex sentences.

他的工作安排已经处于饱和状态，无法再接新项目。(His work schedule is in a saturated state; he cannot take on new projects.)

Another frequent construction involves '饱和度' (bǎohédù). This is almost exclusively used for intensity measurements. In photography or video editing software in Chinese, you will see a slider labeled '饱和度.' Moving it to the right increases the vividness of the colors. In chemistry, it might refer to the concentration level of a solution.

Scientific Context: '饱和脂肪' (bǎohé zhīfáng) is the term for 'saturated fat.' This is a common phrase in health and nutrition discussions in China today.

医生建议减少饱和脂肪的摄入。(Doctors recommend reducing the intake of saturated fat.)

You are likely to encounter 饱和 (bǎohé) in four primary environments: the workplace, the news, the classroom, and the digital arts studio. Each of these contexts uses the word with a slightly different flavor, but the underlying concept of 'maximum capacity' remains constant.

In the Corporate World: During a performance review or a resource planning meeting, a manager might say, '我们团队的开发能力已经饱和了' (Our team's development capacity is already saturated). This isn't necessarily a negative statement; it simply means everyone is working at full capacity and no more tasks can be assigned without sacrificing quality.
On Financial News (CCTV-2/Economic Reports): News anchors often discuss the '饱和' of various markets. For instance, '一线城市的房地产市场趋于饱和' (The real estate market in first-tier cities is tending towards saturation). This informs investors that growth might slow down and they should look for opportunities in '下沉市场' (lower-tier markets).
In Academic Settings: Students in chemistry or physics classes will hear this word daily. '当溶液达到饱和时，溶质不再溶解' (When the solution reaches saturation, the solute no longer dissolves). It is a fundamental term for understanding physical equilibrium.

现在的短视频内容已经严重饱和，很难再做出爆款。(Current short video content is severely saturated; it's hard to make a viral hit anymore.)

In the context of the '996' work culture (working 9am to 9pm, 6 days a week) in China's tech industry, '饱和' has taken on a slightly weary tone. Employees might complain that their '脑子已经饱和了' (their brains are saturated), meaning they have processed so much information or stress that they can no longer function effectively. It is a word of modern exhaustion.

这个行业的竞争已经达到饱和，小公司很难生存。(Competition in this industry has reached saturation; it's hard for small companies to survive.)

Social Media & Trends: Influencers might talk about '审美饱和' (aesthetic saturation), where a certain style (like 'ins-style' or 'minimalism') has been seen so much that the public is tired of it and craves something new.

由于市场饱和，公司决定开拓海外市场。(Due to market saturation, the company decided to expand into overseas markets.)

While 饱和 (bǎohé) is a versatile word, English speakers often misapply it by directly translating the concept of 'fullness' from English to Chinese without considering the specific domain restrictions of the word.

Mistake 1: Using it for physical fullness (Stomach): In English, you might metaphorically say 'I am saturated with food.' In Chinese, you cannot use '饱和' for this. You must use '饱' (bǎo) or '吃撑了' (chī chēng le).
Incorrect: 我肚子饱和了。(Wǒ dùzi bǎohé le.)
Correct: 我吃饱了。(Wǒ chī bǎo le.)
Mistake 2: Confusing with '充满' (chōngmǎn): '充满' means 'to be filled with' (emotions, air, light). '饱和' implies a limit has been reached. You can be 'filled with joy' (充满喜悦), but you aren't 'saturated with joy' unless you are speaking in a very strange, technical metaphor.
Mistake 3: Misusing the 'Degree' suffix: Sometimes learners say '这个颜色很饱和' (This color is very saturated). While understandable, it's more common to say '这个颜色的饱和度很高' (The saturation degree of this color is very high).

不要把“饱和”和“拥挤”混淆。饱和是容量问题，拥挤是空间问题。(Don't confuse saturation with 'crowdedness.' Saturation is a matter of capacity; crowdedness is a matter of space.)

Another subtle mistake is using '饱和' to describe a container that is simply full. If a glass is full of water, it is '满了' (mǎn le). It is only '饱和' if you are talking about the water's ability to hold a dissolved substance, or if you are using '饱和' to describe the 'state' of the water supply system in a city. Context is everything.

虽然书架满了，但图书馆的藏书量还没达到饱和。(Even though the shelves are full, the library's collection capacity hasn't reached saturation.)

Finally, avoid using '饱和' as a transitive verb. In English, we say 'The rain saturated the ground.' In Chinese, you would say '雨水浸透了地面' (Yǔshuǐ jìntòule dìmiàn) or '地面已经水分饱和了' (The ground is already moisture-saturated). '饱和' is generally a state that a subject enters, rather than an action one thing does to another.

To truly master 饱和 (bǎohé), you must distinguish it from other words that describe 'fullness' or 'completeness' in Chinese. Depending on whether you are talking about physical space, emotional states, or abstract quantities, the word choice changes.

饱和 vs. 充满 (chōngmǎn): 饱和 is about limits and capacity. 充满 is about being 'full of' something, often used for abstract qualities like '充满希望' (full of hope) or '充满活力' (full of vitality). You wouldn't say '饱和希望'.
饱和 vs. 充斥 (chōngchì): 充斥 has a negative connotation, meaning 'to be flooded with' or 'to swarm.' For example, '市场上充斥着假货' (The market is flooded with fakes). 饱和 is neutral and scientific.
饱和 vs. 过剩 (guòshèng): 过剩 means 'surplus' or 'excess.' While 饱和 means you are at the limit, 过剩 means you have gone past the limit and now have too much. '生产过剩' (overproduction) is the step after '市场饱和'.
饱和 vs. 足够 (zúgòu): 足够 simply means 'enough.' If you have enough money, you say '钱足够了.' If the market is '饱和,' it means there is no more room for new money to be made.

这里的氧气很充足，但还没达到饱和。(The oxygen here is sufficient [chōngzú], but it hasn't reached saturation.)

In the context of colors, you might use 鲜艳 (xiānyàn) to mean 'bright/vivid' instead of 'high saturation.' While '饱和度高' is technical, '鲜艳' is more descriptive and common in daily speech. For example, '这朵花的颜色很鲜艳' (The color of this flower is very vivid).

这个项目需要的是充沛的精力，而不是饱和的工作量。(This project needs abundant [chōngpèi] energy, not a saturated workload.)

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The character '和' is one of the most versatile in Chinese. Its use in '饱和' was likely influenced by Japanese translations of Western scientific texts (Wasei-kango) in the late 19th century, which then flowed back into Chinese.

Pronunciation Guide

UK bǎohé

US bǎohé

Primary stress is usually on the second syllable 'hé' in natural speech flow.

Rhymes With

巧合 (qiǎohé) 组合 (zǔhé) 和 (hé) 河 (hé) 盒 (hé) 喝 (hē - near rhyme) 乐 (lè - near rhyme) 哥 (gē - near rhyme)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'hé' as 'hě' (3rd tone) like the word for 'and'.
Pronouncing 'bǎo' as 'bāo' (1st tone).
Failing to distinguish the rising tone of 'hé' from a flat tone.
Confusing 'bǎohé' with 'bǎohù' (protect).
Over-emphasizing the 'o' in 'bǎo' like the English word 'bowl'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Characters are common, but the abstract meaning requires B1 knowledge.

Writing 4/5

Writing '饱' and '和' is easy, but using them correctly in formal contexts is harder.

Speaking 3/5

Tones are manageable, but must avoid the 'stomach full' mistake.

Listening 3/5

Distinct sounding, but often spoken quickly in news reports.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

饱 (Full) 和 (Harmony/And) 满 (Full/Fill) 市场 (Market) 达到 (Reach)

Learn Next

过剩 (Surplus) 稀缺 (Scarce) 瓶颈 (Bottleneck) 均衡 (Equilibrium) 溶解 (Dissolve)

Advanced

边际收益 (Marginal return) 超临界 (Supercritical) 渗透 (Osmosis) 弥漫 (Pervade)

Grammar to Know

State-change '了' (le)

市场饱和了 (The market has become saturated).

Degree complement '度' (dù)

饱和度 (Degree of saturation).

Resultative Verb '达到' (dádào)

达到饱和 (Reach saturation).

Adjectival Modifier with '的' (de)

饱和的溶液 (Saturated solution).

Prepositional '处于...状态' (chǔyú...zhuàngtài)

处于饱和状态 (Be in a state of saturation).

Examples by Level

我吃饱了。

I am full (after eating).

Uses only '饱' (bǎo), the root of '饱和'.

这个颜色很饱满。

This color is very full/rich.

A1 learners use '饱满' for fullness before '饱和'.

水满了。

The water is full.

A1 uses '满' (mǎn) for physical containers.

他很忙。

He is very busy.

A1 alternative to '工作量饱和'.

照片很美。

The photo is beautiful.

Simple description.

我不饿。

I am not hungry.

Opposite of hungry.

这个杯子是满的。

This cup is full.

Using '满' for physical objects.

我有许多工作。

I have a lot of work.

Simple way to express volume.

这个产品的市场饱和了。

The market for this product is saturated.

Subject + 饱和 + 了.

这张照片的饱和度很高。

The saturation of this photo is high.

饱和度 (Saturation degree) as a noun.

教室里的学生已经饱和了。

The students in the classroom have reached capacity.

Using 饱和 to mean 'full capacity'.

我不喜欢太饱和的颜色。

I don't like colors that are too saturated.

饱和 as an adjective modifying '颜色'.

这里的餐厅已经饱和了。

The restaurants here have reached saturation (too many of them).

Describing a business environment.

盐水已经饱和了。

The salt water is saturated.

Basic scientific use.

我的时间表已经饱和了。

My schedule is already full.

Metaphorical use for time.

这个城市的车已经饱和了。

The cars in this city have reached saturation.

Describing urban limits.

由于市场饱和，我们很难增加销售额。

Due to market saturation, it's hard for us to increase sales.

Using '由于' (due to) to explain cause.

他的工作量已经达到饱和状态。

His workload has reached a state of saturation.

达到...状态 (reach a state of...).

这种化学物质在高温下更容易达到饱和。

This chemical substance reaches saturation more easily at high temperatures.

Scientific context with conditions.

我们需要降低图片的饱和度。

We need to lower the saturation of the image.

Using '降低' (lower) with '饱和度'.

饱和脂肪对心脏健康不利。

Saturated fat is not good for heart health.

Common health terminology.

人才市场已经处于饱和状态。

The job market is in a state of saturation.

处于...状态 (be in a state of...).

当水分饱和时，土壤无法再吸收雨水。

When moisture is saturated, the soil cannot absorb more rain.

Using '当...时' (when...).

我们的存储空间已经快饱和了。

Our storage space is almost saturated/full.

Using '快...了' (almost...).

在饱和的市场中，差异化竞争是成功的关键。

In a saturated market, differentiated competition is the key to success.

Prepositional phrase '在...中'.

空气中的相对湿度达到了饱和点。

The relative humidity in the air has reached the saturation point.

Technical term '饱和点'.

我们需要评估当前生产力的饱和程度。

We need to assess the current saturation level of productivity.

饱和程度 (degree of saturation).

长期摄入过多的饱和脂肪酸会增加患病风险。

Long-term intake of too many saturated fatty acids increases the risk of disease.

Formal medical Chinese.

这种营销策略已经让消费者感到审美饱和。

This marketing strategy has caused consumers to feel aesthetic saturation.

使/让...感到... (cause someone to feel...).

该地区的商场数量已经严重饱和。

The number of shopping malls in this area is severely saturated.

Using '严重' (severely) as an adverb.

当需求达到饱和后，价格往往会下降。

After demand reaches saturation, prices often drop.

Using '后' (after) to show sequence.

我们需要通过创新来打破市场的饱和局面。

We need to break the market saturation situation through innovation.

打破...局面 (break a situation).

在信息饱和的时代，深度思考变得尤为珍贵。

In an era of information saturation, deep thinking becomes particularly precious.

Abstract metaphorical use.

这种攻击方式被称为“饱和攻击”，旨在瘫痪敌方的防御系统。

This method of attack is called a 'saturation attack,' aimed at paralyzing the enemy's defense system.

Military terminology.

由于长期处于心理饱和状态，他感到了职业倦怠。

Due to being in a state of psychological saturation for a long time, he felt professional burnout.

Psychological application.

该理论认为，消费者的欲望在某种程度上是会达到饱和的。

The theory suggests that consumers' desires will reach saturation to some extent.

Economic theory discussion.

色彩饱和度过高往往会掩盖画面的细节。

Excessive color saturation often obscures the details of the image.

Artistic critique.

当一个社会的法律体系趋于饱和，新的改革将变得异常困难。

When a society's legal system tends towards saturation, new reforms will become exceptionally difficult.

Sociopolitical use.

我们要警惕这种“饱和式”的宣传手段，以免引起反感。

We should be wary of this 'saturation-style' propaganda to avoid causing resentment.

饱和式 (saturation-style) as an adjective.

在饱和蒸汽压的作用下，容器内的压力持续升高。

Under the influence of saturated vapor pressure, the pressure inside the container continues to rise.

Advanced physics context.

这种文学风格的泛滥导致了读者审美体验的某种饱和与钝化。

The proliferation of this literary style has led to a certain saturation and blunting of the reader's aesthetic experience.

High-level literary criticism.

在宏观经济学中，资本边际收益递减往往与资本饱和密切相关。

In macroeconomics, the diminishing marginal returns of capital are often closely related to capital saturation.

Academic economic discourse.

该实验精确测量了在极端压力下超临界流体的饱和曲线。

The experiment accurately measured the saturation curve of supercritical fluids under extreme pressure.

Specialized scientific research.

当社会资源分配达到某种动态饱和时，阶层流动性往往会降低。

When the distribution of social resources reaches a certain dynamic saturation, social mobility often decreases.

Sociological analysis.

这种“饱和式救援”体现了不计代价、全力以赴的人道主义精神。

This 'saturation-style rescue' embodies the humanitarian spirit of giving everything regardless of cost.

Specific cultural reference (common in Chinese disaster reporting).

通过调节溶剂的极性，可以有效改变溶质的饱和溶解度。

By adjusting the polarity of the solvent, the saturated solubility of the solute can be effectively changed.

Advanced chemistry.

城市空间的过度开发已使其承载能力处于超饱和状态。

The over-development of urban space has placed its carrying capacity in a state of super-saturation.

超饱和 (super-saturation).

在艺术创作中，刻意的“非饱和”处理往往能营造出一种疏离感。

In artistic creation, intentional 'de-saturation' treatment often creates a sense of alienation.

Art theory.

Synonyms

充盈充满满员充斥

Antonyms

稀缺匮乏不足

Common Collocations

市场饱和

饱和状态

饱和度

饱和脂肪

达到饱和

趋于饱和

工作量饱和

饱和攻击

信息饱和

饱和点

Common Phrases

审美饱和

— When people are tired of a certain style because they've seen it too much.

观众对这种综艺节目已经审美饱和了。

超饱和

— Super-saturated; beyond the normal limit.

这个城市的交通已经处于超饱和状态。

非饱和

— Unsaturated; not yet at the limit.

我们要多吃非饱和脂肪酸。

饱和蒸汽

— Saturated steam; steam in equilibrium with water.

饱和蒸汽的温度随压力变化。

人才饱和

— When there are too many qualified people for too few jobs.

某些热门行业已经出现了人才饱和。

需求饱和

— When consumer demand for a product is fully met.

需求饱和导致了价格战。

饱和式救援

— A rescue effort that uses overwhelming resources to ensure success.

政府采取了饱和式救援来应对地震。

颜色饱和

— Vivid or intense coloring.

这幅画的颜色饱和，非常吸引人。

饱和溶解度

— The maximum amount of a substance that can dissolve.

饱和溶解度受温度影响很大。

心理饱和

— Psychological saturation; being unable to take more mental stress.

由于心理饱和，他无法继续学习。

Often Confused With

饱和 vs 充满

充满 is for 'filled with' (emotions/air), 饱和 is for 'reaching a limit'.

饱和 vs 满足

满足 is 'satisfied' or 'to meet a requirement', 饱和 is a physical/systemic state.

饱和 vs 饱满

饱满 means 'plump' or 'full of energy' (like a grain or a person's spirit).

Idioms & Expressions

"过犹不及"

— Going too far is as bad as not going far enough. Often applied to saturation.

饱和度调得太高反而不好看，真是过犹不及。

Literary/Formal

"物极必反"

— Things will develop in the opposite direction when they become extreme. Saturation leads to change.

市场饱和后必然会转型，这就是物极必反。

Literary/Formal

"满招损，谦受益"

— Pride leads to loss, humility brings benefit. 'Fullness' (like saturation) can lead to decline.

企业在市场饱和时要保持谦逊，寻找新出路。

Literary/Formal

"水满则溢"

— When water is full, it overflows. Used to describe reaching a limit.

发展到了饱和阶段，水满则溢，必须寻找新空间。

Common

"杯弓蛇影"

— Being extremely suspicious. (Not directly related to saturation, but used in 'psychological' states).

他在信息饱和的压力下变得杯弓蛇影。

Common

"绰绰有余"

— More than enough. The opposite of being just at the saturation point.

我们的资源还绰绰有余，远未达到饱和。

Common

"层见叠出"

— Occurring again and again. Describes things that lead to saturation.

同类产品层见叠出，导致市场迅速饱和。

Formal

"比比皆是"

— Found everywhere. Describes the result of saturation.

在饱和的市场，类似的广告比比皆是。

Common

"乏善可陈"

— Nothing good to report. Often used for saturated markets with no innovation.

这个趋于饱和的行业近年的表现乏善可陈。

Formal

"如火如荼"

— Like a spreading fire. Describes the phase before saturation.

在市场达到饱和前，竞争正进行得如火如荼。

Common

Easily Confused

饱和 vs 充足

Both mean having a lot.

充足 is positive (enough/plenty); 饱和 is neutral/technical (at the limit).

充足的阳光 (Plenty of sunlight) vs. 饱和的市场 (Saturated market).

饱和 vs 充斥

Both mean 'full of'.

充斥 is always negative (flooded with bad things); 饱和 is a neutral state.

充斥着谎言 (Full of lies) vs. 饱和溶液 (Saturated solution).

饱和 vs 过剩

Both relate to limits.

饱和 is exactly at the limit; 过剩 is beyond the limit (surplus).

劳动力饱和 (Labor market full) vs. 劳动力过剩 (Too many workers).

饱和 vs 满

Basic word for full.

满 is for containers (glass/room); 饱和 is for systems/substances.

水满了 (Water is full) vs. 饱和脂肪 (Saturated fat).

饱和 vs 浸透

Both used for liquids.

浸透 means 'soaked through'; 饱和 means 'cannot hold more'.

雨水浸透了衣服 (Rain soaked the clothes) vs. 土壤水分饱和 (Soil moisture saturation).

Sentence Patterns

[Subject] + 饱和 + 了。

市场饱和了。

[Subject] + 达到 + 饱和点。

销售达到了饱和点。

[Noun] + 的 + 饱和度 + [Adjective]。

这张照片的饱和度很高。

处于 + 饱和 + 状态。

该地区的交通处于饱和状态。

由于 + [Reason] + 饱和。

由于竞争饱和，利润下降了。

趋于 + 饱和。

传统行业的需求正趋于饱和。

饱和 + 脂肪/蒸汽/溶液。

他尽量避免食用饱和脂肪。

超/非/半 + 饱和。

这是一个超饱和的竞争环境。

Word Family

Nouns

饱和度 (Saturation degree)

饱和点 (Saturation point)

饱和蒸汽 (Saturated steam)

饱和脂肪 (Saturated fat)

Verbs

达到饱和 (To reach saturation)

趋于饱和 (To tend towards saturation)

Adjectives

饱和的 (Saturated)

超饱和的 (Super-saturated)

非饱和的 (Unsaturated)

饱 (Full)

和 (Harmony/Sum)

充满 (Filled)

充斥 (Flooded)

满足 (Satisfied)

How to Use It

frequency

Common in professional, academic, and technical contexts. Rare in casual kitchen-table talk.

Common Mistakes

我吃饱和了。 → 我吃饱了。
饱和 is for systems/limits, not for the feeling of fullness in the stomach after eating.
这个房间饱和了人。 → 这个房间坐满了人。
For physical spaces filled with people, use '满' or '挤满'. 饱和 is more abstract or scientific.
饱和度很低。 → 饱和度很低。 (This is correct, but learners often say '饱和度很小'.)
Use '高' (high) or '低' (low) with '饱和度', not '大' or '小'.
雨水饱和了大地。 → 大地的水分已经饱和了。
饱和 is usually a state of the subject, not an action done by an object. Use '使...饱和' or '浸透'.
他充满了饱和。 → 他处于饱和状态。
You cannot 'be full of saturation'. You 'reach' saturation or 'are in a state' of it.

Tips

Using '达到'

Always try to use '达到' (reach) with '饱和'. It makes your Chinese sound more formal and accurate.

Saturation Degree

Remember to add '度' (dù) when talking about the *level* of saturation, like in colors or concentrations.

Not for Food

Never use '饱和' for your stomach. It's the #1 mistake English speakers make with this word.

Market Talk

If you are in a business meeting, use '市场趋于饱和' to suggest that growth is slowing down.

Chemistry Tip

In chemistry, '饱和' is the opposite of '稀释' (diluted) in terms of reaching a limit, though '浓' (concentrated) is more common for general strength.

Color Editing

If you use Chinese apps like Meitu, look for the '饱和度' slider to make your photos pop.

Mental Health

Use '心理饱和' to describe the feeling when you've studied too much and can't remember anything new.

Formal Writing

Use '饱和点' (saturation point) when writing academic essays to refer to a peak or limit.

News Keywords

When you hear '饱和' on the news, pay attention to the subject. It's usually about '房地产' (real estate) or '就业' (employment).

Movie Terms

If you watch 'The Wandering Earth', you'll hear '饱和式救援'. It's a key cultural phrase now.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Bowl' (Bǎo) of 'Herbs' (Hé). If the bowl is perfectly full of herbs, it is 'Saturated' (饱和). No more herbs can fit!

Visual Association

Visualize a sponge that is so wet it can't hold any more water. That sponge is in a state of 饱和.

Word Web

饱和 (Center) 市场 (Market) 溶液 (Solution) 脂肪 (Fat) 颜色 (Color) 工作 (Work) 状态 (State) 极限 (Limit)

Challenge

Try to use '饱和' to describe your next busy day instead of just saying 'busy'. Say: '我的日程已经饱和了'!

Word Origin

The term is a modern compound. '饱' (bǎo) originally refers to eating one's fill, dating back to the Oracle Bone Script. '和' (hé) traditionally means harmony or peace, but in modern scientific terminology, it was adopted to represent 'balance' or 'equilibrium' in chemical and physical systems.

Original meaning: Literally: 'Fullness in Harmony.' Used to describe a state where a system is balanced and cannot accept more.

Sino-Tibetan (Mandarin Chinese)

Cultural Context

No specific sensitivities, but be careful not to use it for a person's weight (it's not a polite way to say someone is 'full' or 'fat').

English speakers use 'saturated' similarly in business, but rarely use it for 'workload' in casual speech (usually 'swamped' or 'at capacity').

The Wandering Earth (film) - uses '饱和式救援'. Economic reports on the 'Chinese Smartphone Market' saturation. Chemistry textbooks in all Chinese middle schools.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Business Meeting

市场已经饱和
寻找新增长点
竞争激烈
趋于饱和

Chemistry Lab

饱和溶液
达到溶解极限
结晶
沉淀

Photography/Design

调高饱和度
颜色太假
鲜艳程度
滤镜效果

Health/Diet

饱和脂肪酸
动物油脂
健康风险
饮食平衡

Office/Work

工作量饱和
没时间接新活
效率下降
超负荷

Conversation Starters

"你觉得现在的智能手机市场饱和了吗？ (Do you think the smartphone market is saturated?)"

"这幅画的饱和度是不是太高了？ (Is the saturation of this painting too high?)"

"你最近的工作量饱和吗？ (Is your workload saturated lately?)"

"你知道饱和脂肪和不饱和脂肪的区别吗？ (Do you know the difference between saturated and unsaturated fats?)"

"为什么这个城市的共享单车会达到饱和？ (Why did the shared bikes in this city reach saturation?)"

Journal Prompts

描述一次你感到“信息饱和”的经历。 (Describe a time you felt 'information saturation'.)

如果一个市场饱和了，公司应该怎么做？ (What should a company do if a market is saturated?)

谈谈你对“饱和式救援”的看法。 (Talk about your views on 'saturation-style rescue'.)

你更喜欢高饱和度的颜色还是低饱和度的？为什么？ (Do you prefer high or low saturation colors? Why?)

写一段话，用“饱和”来形容你目前的学习状态。 (Write a paragraph using 'saturation' to describe your current learning state.)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No. You should use '我吃饱了' (Wǒ chī bǎo le). '饱和' is too technical and sounds like you are a chemical solution. It is never used for human appetite.

It is generally neutral. In science, it's just a state. In business, it can be negative because it means no more growth. In art, high saturation can be positive (vivid) or negative (unnatural).

In science, it's '不饱和' (unsaturated). In business, it might be '匮乏' (scarce) or '有潜力' (having potential).

You can say '我的工作量已经饱和了' (My workload is saturated). This is a professional way to say you can't take more tasks.

It means 'Saturation.' It refers to how intense or pure the colors are. Higher saturation means more vivid colors; lower means more gray.

This phrase means using a massive, overwhelming amount of resources (more than strictly necessary) to ensure a rescue succeeds. It's about 'saturating' the problem with solutions.

Only metaphorically, like '心理饱和' (mental saturation/overload). It's not used for simple emotions like 'full of joy'.

It can be both. As an adjective: '饱和的脂肪'. As a verb/state: '市场饱和了'.

充满 means 'filled with' (like a room filled with air). 饱和 means 'at the capacity limit' (like air that can't hold more water vapor).

Yes, it typically appears in HSK 5 or HSK 6 (B2/C1 levels) in reading passages about science or economics.

Test Yourself 200 questions

writing

Write a sentence using '市场饱和' to explain why a business is failing.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Because the market is saturated, our company cannot get new customers.