èrshǒuyān: 二手烟 - Secondhand Smoke, Passive Smoking

• Keywords: ershouyan, 二手烟, secondhand smoke in Chinese, passive smoking China, quit smoking Chinese, Chinese smoking culture, public health in China, 吸烟, 戒烟, no smoking Chinese
• Summary: Learn the crucial Chinese term for secondhand smoke, 二手烟 (èrshǒuyān). This comprehensive guide breaks down the characters, explains its growing importance in Chinese public health and social etiquette, and provides numerous practical example sentences. Discover the cultural context of smoking in China and understand how to talk about the dangers of passive smoking.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): èrshǒuyān
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: The smoke inhaled involuntarily from tobacco being smoked by others; secondhand smoke.
• In a Nutshell: 二手烟 (èrshǒuyān) is the direct Chinese equivalent of “secondhand smoke.” It literally translates to “second-hand smoke” and is a very common term in daily life. Due to the high number of smokers in China, this word is frequently used in conversations about health, personal space, and public regulations. It always carries a negative connotation because of its well-known health risks.

• 二 (èr): The character for the number “two.” In this context, it signifies “second” or “secondary.”
• 手 (shǒu): The character for “hand.” When combined with 二, the term 二手 (èrshǒu) means “second-hand” or “used.” This is a very useful pattern for objects like a second-hand car (二手车) or second-hand books (二手书).
• 烟 (yān): The character for “smoke,” “tobacco,” or “cigarette.”

The characters combine logically and transparently to mean “second-hand smoke.” Understanding the 二手 (èrshǒu) pattern is a great way to expand your vocabulary for many other “used” or “pre-owned” items.

Historically, smoking has been deeply ingrained in Chinese social culture, especially among men. Offering a cigarette was, and in many places still is, a common gesture of politeness, respect, and social bonding, similar to offering a drink in Western cultures. This made avoiding 二手烟 particularly difficult, as complaining about it could be seen as rejecting a friendly gesture or causing someone to lose face (丢面子, diū miànzi). However, in the last two decades, there has been a massive shift. A growing public awareness of the severe health risks associated with 二手烟, especially for children and the elderly, has changed social norms. This has led to widespread government campaigns and strict smoking bans in indoor public spaces in major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen. The tension between the traditional social ritual of smoking and the modern imperative for public health makes 二手烟 a significant cultural touchstone. It represents a broader societal shift in China towards prioritizing individual health and rights (like the right to clean air) over traditional social customs that may be harmful.

二手烟 is a common term used across various contexts, from casual complaints to official regulations.

• In Daily Conversation: People use it to express discomfort or make polite requests. For example, when entering a smoke-filled taxi or restaurant, one might complain about the 二手烟. It's the primary term used to ask someone not to smoke nearby.
• Public Health and Media: News reports, documentaries, and public service announcements frequently use 二手烟 to discuss the dangers of passive smoking, its link to cancer, and its effects on children's respiratory health.
• Signage and Regulations: You will see this term on “No Smoking” signs, which might add a phrase like “为了您和他人的健康，请勿吸烟” (Wèile nín hé tārén de jiànkāng, qǐng wù xīyān - For your health and the health of others, please do not smoke), implicitly referencing the danger of 二手烟.

Its connotation is universally negative. There is no situation where 二手烟 is considered a good thing.

• Example 1:
  • 长期吸二手烟对身体的危害很大。
  • Pinyin: Chángqī xī èrshǒuyān duì shēntǐ de wēihài hěn dà.
  • English: Long-term inhalation of secondhand smoke is very harmful to one's health.
  • Analysis: A common sentence used in a health or medical context to state a fact.
• Example 2:
  • 请不要在孩子面前抽烟，我不想让他吸二手烟。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng bùyào zài háizi miànqián chōuyān, wǒ bùxiǎng ràng tā xī èrshǒuyān.
  • English: Please don't smoke in front of the child, I don't want him to inhale secondhand smoke.
  • Analysis: A direct and polite request. The focus is on protecting a vulnerable person (a child).
• Example 3:
  • 这家咖啡馆是无烟区，完全没有二手烟的困扰。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā kāfēiguǎn shì wúyānqū, wánquán méiyǒu èrshǒuyān de kùnrǎo.
  • English: This coffee shop is a non-smoking area, so there's no trouble with secondhand smoke at all.
  • Analysis: This shows the term used in a positive context to describe a smoke-free environment.
• Example 4:
  • 为了家人的健康，我爸爸终于决定戒烟了，现在家里再也闻不到二手烟了。
  • Pinyin: Wèile jiārén de jiànkāng, wǒ bàba zhōngyú juédìng jièyān le, xiànzài jiālǐ zàiyě wén bù dào èrshǒuyān le.
  • English: For the sake of the family's health, my dad finally decided to quit smoking. Now we can no longer smell secondhand smoke at home.
  • Analysis: This sentence connects 二手烟 with the act of quitting smoking (戒烟).
• Example 5:
  • 他这个人太自私了，总是在办公室里抽烟，让我们都吸他的二手烟。
  • Pinyin: Tā zhège rén tài zìsī le, zǒngshì zài bàngōngshì lǐ chōuyān, ràng wǒmen dōu xī tā de èrshǒuyān.
  • English: He is so selfish, always smoking in the office and making all of us breathe his secondhand smoke.
  • Analysis: Used here in a complaint to describe someone's inconsiderate behavior.
• Example 6:
  • 中国很多大城市已经立法，禁止在所有室内公共场所吸烟，以减少二手烟的危害。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngguó hěnduō dà chéngshì yǐjīng lìfǎ, jìnzhǐ zài suǒyǒu shìnèi gōnggòng chǎngsuǒ xīyān, yǐ jiǎnshǎo èrshǒuyān de wēihài.
  • English: Many large cities in China have already passed legislation banning smoking in all indoor public places to reduce the harm of secondhand smoke.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the term's use in a formal, legal, or governmental context.
• Example 7:
  • 我对烟味很敏感，一闻到二手烟就咳嗽。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ duì yānwèi hěn mǐngǎn, yī wén dào èrshǒuyān jiù késou.
  • English: I'm very sensitive to the smell of smoke; I start coughing as soon as I smell secondhand smoke.
  • Analysis: Expressing a personal, physical reaction to 二手烟.
• Example 8:
  • 孕妇应该尽量避免接触二手烟。
  • Pinyin: Yùnfù yīnggāi jǐnliàng bìmiǎn jiēchù èrshǒuyān.
  • English: Pregnant women should do their best to avoid exposure to secondhand smoke.
  • Analysis: A common piece of medical advice. “接触 (jiēchù)” means “to come into contact with.”
• Example 9:
  • 虽然我们公司有吸烟区，但二手烟还是会飘到办公室里来。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán wǒmen gōngsī yǒu xīyānqū, dàn èrshǒuyān háishì huì piāo dào bàngōngshì lǐ lái.
  • English: Although our company has a designated smoking area, the secondhand smoke still drifts into the office.
  • Analysis: This shows that even with designated areas, 二手烟 can still be a problem.
• Example 10:
  • 二手烟的危害甚至比直接吸烟更大。
  • Pinyin: Èrshǒuyān de wēihài shènzhì bǐ zhíjiē xīyān gèng dà.
  • English: The dangers of secondhand smoke are even greater than those of smoking directly.
  • Analysis: A common, though debated, talking point in anti-smoking campaigns. It highlights the perceived severity of the issue.

• It's Inhaled, Not Smoked: A common mistake is to think of 二手烟 as something a person actively “smokes.” You don't “抽 (chōu) 二手烟” (smoke secondhand smoke). You “吸 (xī) 二手烟” (inhale/breathe in secondhand smoke).
  • Incorrect: 他在抽二手烟。 (Tā zài chōu èrshǒuyān.)
  • Correct: 他在吸二手烟。 (Tā zài xī èrshǒuyān.)
• The “二手 (èrshǒu)” Pattern: Remember that “二手” just means “second-hand.” Don't limit its use to smoke. Applying this pattern is key to fluency.
  • 二手车 (èrshǒuchē): second-hand car
  • 二手房 (èrshǒufáng): second-hand house/apartment
  • 二手书 (èrshǒushū): second-hand book
• 二手烟 vs. 烟 (yān): 二手烟 is specifically the smoke that a non-smoker inhales. The general term for smoke from a cigarette is just 烟 (yān). A smoker “抽烟 (chōuyān),” creating both 烟 and 二手烟.

• 吸烟 (xīyān) - To smoke. The verb for the act of smoking, often used in formal contexts or signs. The action that creates 二手烟.
• 抽烟 (chōuyān) - To smoke. A more common and colloquial verb for smoking.
• 戒烟 (jièyān) - To quit smoking. The most effective way to eliminate 二手烟 at home.
• 被动吸烟 (bèidòng xīyān) - Passive smoking. A more formal, scientific term for inhaling secondhand smoke. 二手烟 is the smoke itself; 被动吸烟 is the action of inhaling it.
• 烟民 (yānmín) - Smoker; the smoking population. Literally “smoke citizens.”
• 禁止吸烟 (jìnzhǐ xīyān) - No Smoking. The phrase you see on signs in public places.
• 公共场所 (gōnggòng chǎngsuǒ) - Public place. The main battleground for regulations concerning 二手烟.
• 健康 (jiànkāng) - Health. The primary reason people are concerned about 二手烟.
• 二手 (èrshǒu) - Second-hand. The general adjective for anything used or pre-owned.