1.
to make dirty, to soil
To cause something to become unclean.
服を汚す。
To get one's clothes dirty.
手を汚す。
To dirty one's hands (lit./fig.).
泥で靴を汚した。
I dirtied my shoes with mud.
部屋を汚さないで。
Don't make a mess in the room.
子供が壁を汚した。
The child dirtied the wall.
2.
to pollute, to contaminate
To make impure or unfit.
川を汚す工場。
A factory that pollutes the river.
空気を汚す。
To pollute the air.
環境を汚してはいけない。
We must not pollute the environment.
名誉を汚す。
To tarnish one's honor.
海を汚す{ゴミ}。
Trash that pollutes the ocean.
汚す is a transitive godan verb meaning "to make dirty" or "to pollute."
TRANSITIVITY:
- Type: 他動詞 (transitive)
- Pair: 汚れる (intransitive - to get dirty)
ASPECT:
- 汚している: is in the process of dirtying
- 汚してある: has been intentionally dirtied
COMMON OBJECTS:
- 服を汚す: to dirty clothes
- 部屋を汚す: to make a room messy
- 空気/川を汚す: to pollute air/river
- 名誉を汚す: to tarnish one's honor
IDIOM:
手を汚す has two meanings:
1. Literal: to dirty one's hands
2. Figurative: to do something immoral/criminal