公 害(こうがい)

こうがい

noun

pollution; environmental damage; public nuisance

legal

1. pollution; environmental damage; public nuisance

Environmental harm caused by industrial or human activity that affects public health and living conditions. A key term in Japanese environmental history, especially regarding the pollution crises of the 1960s-70s.

公害(こうがい)問題(もんだい)は深刻(しんこく)だ。

The pollution problem is serious.

工場(こうじょう)からの排水(はいすい)が公害(こうがい)の原因(げんいん)となった。

Wastewater from the factory became the cause of pollution.

高度(こうど)経済(けいざい)成長期(せいちょうき)には、各地(かくち)で公害(こうがい)が発生(はっせい)し社会問題(しゃかいもんだい)になった。

During the period of rapid economic growth, pollution occurred in various regions and became a social issue.

A central concept in modern Japanese history. Japan's rapid industrialization in the 1960s led to severe pollution incidents known as the 四大公害病(よんだいこうがいびょう) (four major pollution-related diseases), including Minamata disease and Itai-itai disease.

Common collocations

公害(こうがい)問題(もんだい) (pollution problem)
公害(こうがい)病(びょう) (pollution-related disease)
公害(こうがい)対策(たいさく) (pollution countermeasures)
公害(こうがい)訴訟(そしょう) (pollution lawsuit)

Usage

公害(こうがい) specifically refers to pollution that harms public welfare, distinguishing it from general 汚染(おせん) (contamination). It has a legal dimension in Japan — the 公害対策基本法(こうがいたいさくきほんほう) (Basic Law for Environmental Pollution Control) was enacted in 1967.

Related Words

Homophone: 口外(こうがい) (disclosing)

Related: 汚染物質(おせんぶっしつ) (pollutant)

Compare: 環境汚染(かんきょうおせん) (environmental pollution)

general

Added 2026.3.4 16:23 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

14500/14944_kougai