jianpai: 减排 - Emission Reduction, To Reduce Emissions

• Keywords: 减排, jiǎnpái, reduce emissions in Chinese, emission reduction, China climate change policy, environmental protection China, 节能减排, carbon neutral China, HSK vocabulary, learn Chinese environmental terms.
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 减排 (jiǎnpái), a crucial Chinese term for “emission reduction.” This page explores its character breakdown, cultural significance in China's environmental policy, and practical usage in discussions about climate change, from government targets to corporate responsibility. Learn how 减排 is a cornerstone of concepts like “carbon neutrality” (碳中和) and is essential vocabulary for understanding modern China's goals for sustainable development.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jiǎnpái
• Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
• HSK Level: N/A (Advanced/Specialized)
• Concise Definition: To reduce the discharge of pollutants; emission reduction.
• In a Nutshell: 减排 (jiǎnpái) is a formal and powerful term that combines “reduce” (减) and “discharge/emit” (排). It's the standard term used in news, government policy, and business contexts when discussing the reduction of harmful outputs, especially greenhouse gases from factories, vehicles, and power plants. Think of it as the go-to word for any serious conversation about tackling climate change and air pollution in Chinese.

• 减 (jiǎn): This character means “to reduce,” “to decrease,” or “to subtract.” It's composed of the water radical (氵) and 咸 (xián), which primarily provides the sound. Think of it as reducing something, like water level decreasing.
• 排 (pái): This character means “to discharge,” “to emit,” or “to push out.” The hand radical (扌) on the left suggests an action. So, 排 is the action of pushing something out or releasing it, like exhaust from a pipe.

When combined, 减排 (jiǎnpái) literally means “reduce discharge,” a direct and accurate description of its modern meaning: emission reduction.

In modern China, 减排 (jiǎnpái) is far more than just a technical term; it's a pillar of national strategy and a reflection of China's evolving role on the global stage. For decades, China's rapid economic development came at a significant environmental cost. Today, the government has made environmental protection a key priority, and 减排 is the operative word in this national effort. It's often seen in the ubiquitous four-character slogan 节能减排 (jiénéng jiǎnpái), meaning “conserve energy and reduce emissions.” This phrase is plastered on public service announcements, featured in government documents, and is a core part of corporate social responsibility initiatives. The Western concept of “emission reduction” can often be associated with grassroots movements, individual consumer choices, or partisan political debates. In China, while individual awareness is growing, the term 减排 carries the immense weight of top-down, state-driven policy. It is linked to ambitious national goals like achieving “peak carbon” (碳达峰, tàn dáfēng) by 2030 and “carbon neutrality” (碳中和, tàn zhōnghé) by 2060. Therefore, when you hear 减排 in a Chinese context, it signals a collective, national mission guided by long-term government planning, rather than just an individual or corporate goal.

减排 (jiǎnpái) is used in formal and semi-formal contexts. You will encounter it constantly in:

• News and Media: Reports on international climate summits, new environmental regulations, or the performance of green industries.
• Government Policy: Official documents outlining five-year plans and specific reduction targets for various industries.
• Business and Industry: Corporate reports detailing sustainability efforts, or discussions about upgrading technology to meet 减排 standards.
• Academic Discussions: Research papers and lectures on environmental science, economics, and public policy.

It is generally a positive and goal-oriented term. While you wouldn't use it to describe turning off a light at home (that's `节约用电 - jiéyuē yòngdiàn`), you might use it in a serious conversation about how a city or country can fight climate change.

• Example 1:
  • 政府制定了新的减排目标。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ zhìdìng le xīn de jiǎnpái mùbiāo.
  • English: The government has set new emission reduction targets.
  • Analysis: A very common and straightforward use of 减排 as a noun, referring to the policy goal itself.
• Example 2:
  • 这家工厂必须采取措施来减排。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngchǎng bìxū cǎiqǔ cuòshī lái jiǎnpái.
  • English: This factory must take measures to reduce emissions.
  • Analysis: Here, 减排 is used as a verb, indicating the action that needs to be taken.
• Example 3:
  • 节能减排是每个公民的责任。
  • Pinyin: Jiénéng jiǎnpái shì měi ge gōngmín de zérèn.
  • English: Conserving energy and reducing emissions is every citizen's responsibility.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the popular four-character phrase `节能减排`, treating the concept as a unified civic duty.
• Example 4:
  • 发展新能源汽车有助于交通领域的减排。
  • Pinyin: Fāzhǎn xīn néngyuán qìchē yǒuzhùyú jiāotōng lǐngyù de jiǎnpái.
  • English: Developing new energy vehicles helps with emission reduction in the transportation sector.
  • Analysis: This shows 减排 as a noun, specifying the context (“transportation sector”).
• Example 5:
  • 我们需要一个全球性的减排协议。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào yī ge quánqiú xìng de jiǎnpái xiéyì.
  • English: We need a global emission reduction agreement.
  • Analysis: This example places the term in an international context, common during discussions of climate treaties like the Paris Agreement.
• Example 6:
  • 许多公司承诺在2030年前实现显著减排。
  • Pinyin: Xǔduō gōngsī chéngnuò zài èr líng sān líng nián qián shíxiàn xiǎnzhù jiǎnpái.
  • English: Many companies have pledged to achieve significant emission reductions before 2030.
  • Analysis: Here, 减排 is a noun modified by “significant” (显著), showing it can be quantified.
• Example 7:
  • 虽然减排任务艰巨，但我们必须坚持下去。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán jiǎnpái rènwù jiānjù, dàn wǒmen bìxū jiānchí xiàqù.
  • English: Although the task of emission reduction is arduous, we must persevere.
  • Analysis: The phrase `减排任务` (“emission reduction task”) is a common collocation, emphasizing the difficulty and importance of the goal.
• Example 8:
  • 技术创新是实现减排的关键。
  • Pinyin: Jìshù chuàngxīn shì shíxiàn jiǎnpái de guānjiàn.
  • English: Technological innovation is the key to achieving emission reduction.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the solution-oriented nature of discussions involving 减排.
• Example 9:
  • 这项新政策旨在鼓励企业投资减排技术。
  • Pinyin: Zhè xiàng xīn zhèngcè zhǐ zài gǔlì qǐyè tóuzī jiǎnpái jìshù.
  • English: This new policy aims to encourage companies to invest in emission reduction technology.
  • Analysis: `减排技术` (“emission reduction technology”) is another common and useful compound noun.
• Example 10:
  • 为了减排，很多人选择乘坐公共交通工具。
  • Pinyin: Wèile jiǎnpái, hěn duō rén xuǎnzé chéngzuò gōnggòng jiāotōng gōngjù.
  • English: In order to reduce emissions, many people choose to take public transportation.
  • Analysis: This shows how the broad goal of 减排 can be used to explain individual, environmentally-friendly actions.

• Mistake 1: Using 减排 for all types of pollution.
  • 减排 (jiǎnpái) is most specifically about the *discharge* of pollutants, especially gases (like CO2) or wastewater. For general pollution, the broader term is 减少污染 (jiǎnshǎo wūrǎn).
  • Incorrect: 我们要减排土壤污染。(Wǒmen yào jiǎnpái tǔrǎng wūrǎn.)
  • Correct: 我们要减少土壤污染。(Wǒmen yào jiǎnshǎo tǔrǎng wūrǎn.) - We need to reduce soil pollution.
  • Correct: 这家化工厂需要减排废水。(Zhè jiā huàgōngchǎng xūyào jiǎnpái fèishuǐ.) - This chemical plant needs to reduce the discharge of wastewater.
• Mistake 2: Using 减排 in overly casual, small-scale situations.
  • While technically correct, using this formal term for minor personal actions sounds unnatural and overly serious. It's like saying “I will now commence caloric reduction” instead of “I'm going on a diet.”
  • Unnatural: 我要关灯来减排。(Wǒ yào guān dēng lái jiǎnpái.) - I'm turning off the light to reduce emissions.
  • Natural: 我要关灯来省电。(Wǒ yào guān dēng lái shěngdiàn.) - I'm turning off the light to save electricity.

• 节能减排 (jiénéng jiǎnpái) - The common set phrase “conserve energy and reduce emissions,” treating the two concepts as a single, unified goal.
• 碳中和 (tàn zhōnghé) - Carbon neutrality; the state of achieving net-zero carbon dioxide emissions. This is the ultimate objective of many 减排 policies.
• 碳达峰 (tàn dáfēng) - Peak carbon; the point at which a country's carbon emissions reach their highest level before beginning to decline. A critical milestone in China's climate strategy.
• 环保 (huánbǎo) - Environmental protection. This is the broad field to which 减排 belongs.
• 污染 (wūrǎn) - Pollution. The problem that 减排 is designed to solve.
• 可持续发展 (kěchíxù fāzhǎn) - Sustainable development. The overarching philosophy that frames the need for 减排 in the context of long-term economic and social well-being.
• 温室气体 (wēnshì qìtǐ) - Greenhouse gases. The specific category of emissions that is most often the target of 减排 efforts.
• 新能源 (xīn néngyuán) - New energy. Refers to renewable energy sources like solar and wind, which are primary tools for achieving 减排.