公害（こうがい、kougai）
- pollution

The Japanese word 公害 (こうがい) refers to "environmental pollution" or "public nuisance." It encompasses various forms of pollution that negatively impact the environment and human health. This includes air pollution, water pollution, soil contamination, noise pollution, and other forms of pollution caused by human activities. It suggests a situation where the environment is damaged, and people or communities are harmed as a result of pollution. The 公害 itself is often a result of industrialization, urbanization, and other modern activities. The negative effects of this term can have impacts on human health, ecosystems, and the overall quality of life.

⚫︎ 工場からの排煙は深刻な公害を引き起こしている。 Translation: Smoke from factories is causing serious environmental pollution. ⚫︎ あの地域は公害問題で長年苦しんでいる。 Translation: That area has been suffering from pollution problems for many years. ⚫︎ 公害対策として、政府は規制を強化した。 Translation: As a measure against environmental pollution, the government strengthened regulations.

You can use 公害 when discussing environmental problems, pollution issues, or the negative impacts of human activities on the environment. It is used in formal and informal contexts. It's suitable when you talk about the causes, consequences, or solutions related to pollution. It is often used in news reports, academic discussions, or everyday conversations when referring to environmental problems.

公害 is typically written in kanji as 公害 (こうがい). The reading is always "こうがい". There is no other way to write this word, and the okurigana (suffix hiragana) is not applicable.

⚫︎ 環境汚染 (かんきょうおせん): environmental pollution ⚫︎ 汚染 (おせん): pollution ⚫︎ 環境問題 (かんきょうもんだい): environmental problems

⚫︎ 清浄 (せいじょう): purity, cleanliness ⚫︎ 環境保護 (かんきょうほご): environmental protection ⚫︎ 自然保護 (しぜんほご): nature conservation

その川はかつてひどい公害で汚染されていたが、近年浄化が進んでいる。 ・Translation: That river was once heavily polluted due to environmental pollution, but in recent years, purification efforts have been progressing. ・Explanation: This sentence describes a situation where a river suffered from pollution but is now being cleaned up.

公害対策として、再生可能エネルギーの利用が重要です。 ・Translation: Using renewable energy is important as a measure against environmental pollution. ・Explanation: This sentence highlights the importance of using renewable energy to combat pollution.

The word 公害 is a compound word. 公 (こう) means "public" or "official," and 害 (がい) means "harm," "damage," or "disadvantage." Therefore, 公害 literally means "public harm" or "public damage," representing the harm caused to the public or society as a whole by pollution.