páifàng: 排放 - To Discharge, To Emit

• Keywords: 排放, paifang, 排放 meaning, what does 排放 mean, Chinese for emission, Chinese for discharge, carbon emissions in Chinese, pollutant discharge, wastewater discharge Chinese, Chinese environmental terms.
• Summary: Learn the crucial Chinese term 排放 (páifàng), which means “to discharge” or “to emit.” This word is essential for understanding modern China, as it's at the heart of discussions about environmental protection, pollution, and climate change. From carbon emissions (碳排放) and factory wastewater discharge (废水排放) to government regulations, 排放 is a key vocabulary word you'll encounter in the news, official documents, and conversations about China's future. This guide will break down its meaning, cultural significance, and practical use with clear examples.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): páifàng
• Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To discharge or emit substances, typically waste, pollutants, or energy, into the environment.
• In a Nutshell: Think of a pipe pushing something out—that's the core image of 排放. It’s a formal and slightly technical term used almost exclusively for releasing things into the environment. While the action itself is neutral, the substance being released (like smoke, chemicals, or carbon dioxide) is almost always considered undesirable. Therefore, 排放 carries a strong association with pollution and environmental impact.

• 排 (pái): This character's original meaning involves arranging things in a row, but it also carries the strong meaning of “to push out” or “to expel.” The left-hand radical (扌) is the “hand” radical, indicating an action.
• 放 (fàng): A very common character meaning “to release,” “to let go,” or “to put.” It implies a freeing or sending-out action.

When combined, 排放 (páifàng) literally means “to push out and release.” This powerful combination emphasizes the active, deliberate process of expelling a substance from a source (like a factory or a car) into the wider environment.

While 排放 is a modern, technical term, its prominence in Chinese discourse reflects a major shift in the nation's focus. For decades, China's priority was rapid economic development, often at the expense of the environment. The consequences—severe air and water pollution—became impossible to ignore. Today, controlling 排放 is a cornerstone of Chinese national policy. Terms like “carbon neutrality” (碳中和, tàn zhōnghé) and “environmental protection” (环保, huánbǎo) are central to the government's agenda. Therefore, understanding 排放 is not just about learning a word; it's about understanding a key tension and priority in contemporary China: the balance between economic growth and sustainable, “green” development. In contrast to the West, where environmentalism often has strong grassroots or politically partisan elements, the push to control 排放 in China is largely a top-down, state-driven initiative. The word frequently appears in official Five-Year Plans, news reports on government crackdowns on polluting factories, and international climate negotiations. It represents a collective, national-level challenge that the government is tackling with immense resources and authority.

排放 is used in formal and semi-formal contexts, especially in writing and news media. You would rarely use it in a very casual chat unless you are specifically discussing an environmental topic.

• Environmental and Industrial Contexts: This is its home turf. It's used to talk about any form of industrial or man-made emissions.
  • Carbon Emissions: 碳排放 (tàn páifàng)
  • Wastewater Discharge: 废水排放 (fèishuǐ páifàng)
  • Exhaust Emissions: 尾气排放 (wěiqì páifàng)
• As a Noun vs. a Verb:
  • As a verb: “to emit/discharge.” (e.g., 工厂排放废水 - The factory discharges wastewater.)
  • As a noun: “emission(s)/discharge.” (e.g., 这里的排放很严重 - The emissions here are severe.)
• Connotation: The word itself is technically neutral, but its context is almost always negative because it refers to waste and pollutants. Efforts to 减少排放 (jiǎnshǎo páifàng) (reduce emissions) or 控制排放 (kòngzhì páifàng) (control emissions) are seen as positive actions.

• Example 1:
  • 中国政府承诺在2060年前实现碳中和，这意味着必须大幅减少碳排放。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngguó zhèngfǔ chéngnuò zài èr líng liù líng nián qián shíxiàn tàn zhōnghé, yìwèizhe bìxū dàfú jiǎnshǎo tàn páifàng.
  • English: The Chinese government has pledged to achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, which means carbon emissions must be drastically reduced.
  • Analysis: This sentence showcases 排放 in a high-level, formal context of national policy and climate change goals.
• Example 2:
  • 这家化工厂因非法排放有毒气体而被罚款。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā huàgōngchǎng yīn fēifǎ páifàng yǒudú qìtǐ ér bèi fákuǎn.
  • English: This chemical plant was fined for illegally discharging toxic gases.
  • Analysis: Here, 排放 is used as a verb describing an illegal and harmful action, highlighting its negative association.
• Example 3:
  • 为了保护环境，我们应该购买低排放的汽车。
  • Pinyin: Wèile bǎohù huánjìng, wǒmen yīnggāi gòumǎi dī páifàng de qìchē.
  • English: To protect the environment, we should buy low-emission cars.
  • Analysis: This example uses 排放 as a noun in the common compound “低排放” (low emissions), a key marketing and policy term.
• Example 4:
  • 日本决定向海洋排放核废水，引起了邻国的强烈抗议。
  • Pinyin: Rìběn juédìng xiàng hǎiyáng páifàng hé fèishuǐ, yǐnqǐle línguó de qiángliè kàngyì.
  • English: Japan's decision to discharge nuclear wastewater into the ocean triggered strong protests from neighboring countries.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the term's use in international news, particularly in controversial environmental events.
• Example 5:
  • 新的排放标准将从明年一月开始实施。
  • Pinyin: Xīn de páifàng biāozhǔn jiāng cóng míngnián yī yuè kāishǐ shíshī.
  • English: The new emission standards will be implemented starting next January.
  • Analysis: Here, 排放 is part of the set phrase “排放标准” (emission standards), a common regulatory term.
• Example 6:
  • 城市里的主要空气污染物来自于工业排放和汽车尾气。
  • Pinyin: Chéngshì lǐ de zhǔyào kōngqì wūrǎnwù láizìyú gōngyè páifàng hé qìchē wěiqì.
  • English: The main air pollutants in the city come from industrial emissions and vehicle exhaust.
  • Analysis: This shows 排放 used as a general noun for “emissions” from a specific source (industry).
• Example 7:
  • 该公司投资了新技术以降低其生产过程中的排放量。
  • Pinyin: Gāi gōngsī tóuzīle xīn jìshù yǐ jiàngdī qí shēngchǎn guòchéng zhōng de páifàngliàng.
  • English: The company invested in new technology to lower the emission volume during its production process.
  • Analysis: This introduces the related term “排放量” (páifàngliàng), meaning “amount/volume of emissions.”
• Example 8:
  • 法律严格禁止向河流排放未经处理的污水。
  • Pinyin: Fǎlǜ yángé jìnzhǐ xiàng héliú páifàng wèi jīng chǔlǐ de wūshuǐ.
  • English: The law strictly prohibits discharging untreated sewage into rivers.
  • Analysis: A clear example of 排放 as a verb in a legal or prohibitive context.
• Example 9:
  • 通过植树造林，我们可以帮助吸收一部分的温室气体排放。
  • Pinyin: Tōngguò zhíshù zàolín, wǒmen kěyǐ bāngzhù xīshōu yībùfèn de wēnshì qìtǐ páifàng.
  • English: Through afforestation, we can help absorb a portion of greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Analysis: This connects 排放 to a positive solution, showing its role in broader environmental discussions.
• Example 10:
  • 这份报告分析了不同行业的排放数据。
  • Pinyin: Zhè fèn bàogào fēnxīle bùtóng hángyè de páifàng shùjù.
  • English: This report analyzes the emissions data from different industries.
  • Analysis: Highlights the use of 排放 in a scientific, data-driven context.

• False Friend: Don't use 排放 for releasing information or products.
  • A common mistake for learners is to use 排放 for anything that is “released.” However, 排放 is reserved for physical substances/waste into the environment. For releasing a movie, a report, or a new product, you must use 发布 (fābù).
  • Incorrect: `公司排放了最新的软件。`
  • Correct: `公司发布了最新的软件。(Gōngsī fābùle zuìxīn de ruǎnjiàn.)` - The company released the latest software.
• 排放 (páifàng) vs. 放 (fàng):
  • 放 (fàng) is a much broader, more general verb meaning “to put” or “to release.” You can 放 a book on the table (把书放在桌子上), 放 fireworks (放烟花), or 放 someone go (放他走).
  • 排放 (páifàng) is highly specific. You cannot use it for these general situations. It's only for the technical or environmental discharge of waste. You wouldn't say you 排放 a balloon; you would say 放一个气球 (fàng yīgè qìqiú).

• 污染 (wūrǎn) - Pollution. The direct consequence of harmful 排放.
• 环保 (huánbǎo) - Environmental Protection. The field and actions dedicated to controlling 排放.
• 废气 (fèiqì) - Waste Gas / Exhaust. A specific type of substance that is often subject to 排放.
• 废水 (fèishuǐ) - Wastewater. Another common substance that is discharged (排放).
• 碳中和 (tàn zhōnghé) - Carbon Neutrality. The major national goal related to reducing carbon 排放.
• 减排 (jiǎnpái) - To Reduce Emissions. A common abbreviated verb form of “减少排放” (jiǎnshǎo páifàng).
• 排放量 (páifàngliàng) - Emission Volume. A specific noun used to quantify the amount of emissions.
• 标准 (biāozhǔn) - Standard. Often used in the phrase 排放标准 (emission standards).
• 控制 (kòngzhì) - To Control. A verb frequently paired with 排放, as in 控制排放 (to control emissions).