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传染 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
传染chuánrǎnto infectHSK 6, vn, rank #4982, Hard
传染chuánrǎncontagiousHSK 6, vn, rank #4982, Hard
chuánrǎn(chuan2ran3) T2
  1. 1to infect
  2. 2contagious
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March 24, 2026
传染(傳染)chuánrǎn(chuan2ran3)

传染 refers to the process of spreading an illness or disease from one individual to another. It is commonly used in medical contexts to describe contagious diseases, as well as in discussions about health and safety measures.

Frequency#4982DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 传染 is particularly relevant during public health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, where discussions about contagious diseases and preventive measures became crucial in everyday life.

Memory Tip

Think of '传' (to transmit) and '染' (to dye), imagining a virus transmitting a 'dye' of sickness from one person to another. Picture a scene where bright colors represent health and dull colors represent illness, emphasizing the transfer of infection.

Meanings of 传染

chuánrǎn(chuan2ran3)
1to infect
2contagious
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 传染

传染Simplified
傳染Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
名动词dòngcíverb-noun (v.-n.)Part of Speech
#4982Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L6AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

Podcast: 传染

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Podcast: 传染

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AI Study Notes for 传染

Quick Contrast

感染 (gǎnrǎn) — use 传染 when emphasizing the transmission aspect, while 感染 focuses on the state of being infected.

Memory Mnemonic

Think of '传' (to transmit) and '染' (to dye), imagining a virus transmitting a 'dye' of sickness from one person to another. Picture a scene where bright colors represent health and dull colors represent illness, emphasizing the transfer of infection.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 传染 with similar terms like 感染 (gǎn rǎn), which means 'to infect' but is used more broadly. 传染 is often used in formal health discussions, while 感染 might appear in everyday conversations about getting sick.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 5 word, 传染 relates to health and safety vocabulary. Students should focus on its usage in sentences about diseases and public health, connecting it with words like 病 (bìng, illness) and 疫情 (yìqíng, epidemic).

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 传染 is particularly relevant during public health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, where discussions about contagious diseases and preventive measures became crucial in everyday life.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 传染 with 感染, leading to sentences like '我被传染了流感' (I was transmitted the flu), which should be corrected to '我感染了流感' (I was infected with the flu).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 传染

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Component Characters

传chuánbiography
HSK 56 strokes亻
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染rǎnto dye
HSK 69 strokes木
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Write 传染

传
染

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Grammar Patterns of 传染

传染 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

____病正在遭受洪灾的很多灾民中蔓延。

Infectious diseases are spreading among many of the flood victims.

Example Sentences for 传染 (10)

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1
传染病正在遭受洪灾的很多灾民中蔓延。

chuán rǎn bìng zhèng zài zāo shòu hóng zāi de hěn duō zāi mín zhōng màn yán。

Infectious diseases are spreading among many of the flood victims.
2
我是献血者，我不能冒任何接触传染的危险。

wǒ shì xiàn xiě zhě， ， wǒ bù néng mào rèn hé jiē chù chuán rǎn de wēi。

I'm a blood donor; I can't risk any contagion.
3
营养不良的人更有可能被传染。

yíng yǎng bù liáng de rén gēng yǒu kě néng bèi chuán rǎn。

Infections are more likely in those suffering from malnutrition.
4
那种病毒不会通过接触或握手传染.

nà zhǒng bìng dú bù huì tōng guò jiē chù huò wò shǒu chuán rǎn.

The virus is not passed on through touching or shaking hands.
5
流感的传染性很高。

liú gǎn de chuán rǎn xìng hěn gāo。

Flu is highly infectious.
6
摘要水痘症是一种高传染性,急性亲皮肤性病毒感染,好发于儿童,常流行于春、冬两季.

zhāi yào shuǐ dòu zhèng shì yī zhǒng gāo chuán rǎn xìng, , jí xìng qīn pí fū xìng bìng dú gǎn, rǎn , hǎo fā yú, ér tóng , cháng liú、 háng yú chūn.

Chickenpox is a highly contagious infectious disease caused by the varicella - zoster virus.
7
这种传染病在世界范围内的重大影响还未完全显现。

zhè zhǒng chuán rǎn bìng zài shì jiè fàn wéi nèi de zhòng dà yǐng xiǎng huán wèi wán quán xiǎn xiàn。

The major impact of this epidemic worldwide is yet to come.
8
每天都有几百人染上这种可怕的传染病而牺牲.

měi tiān dū yǒu jī bǎi rén rǎn shàng zhè zhǒng kě pà de chuán rǎn bìng ér xī shēng.

Daily, hundreds fell a sacrifice to the terrible epidemic.
9
除了在波兰时染上的那点传染病外, 他的健康实在很好.

chú le zài bō lán shí rǎn shàng de nà diǎn chuán rǎn bìng wài, , tā de jiàn kāng shí zài hěn.

Apart from the little infection he had caught in Poland, his health was sound.
10
所有这些传染病病例都是由那口井引发的 吗 ?

suǒ yǒu zhè xiē chuán rǎn bìng bìng lì dū shì yóu nà kǒu jǐng yǐn fā de?

Is that well the source of all the cases of infection?

Cultural Notes for 传染

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of 传染 is particularly relevant during public health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, where discussions about contagious diseases and preventive measures became crucial in everyday life.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

While both Chinese and Western cultures recognize contagious diseases, the emphasis on community health and collective responsibility in Chinese culture can lead to stricter measures compared to individualistic approaches often seen in the West.

Frequently Asked Questions about 传染

You can say '这个病毒很容易传染' (This virus is highly contagious).