Category: Chinese Words&Phrases

         Zhong Nanshan, an academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, is the representative at the National People’s Congress (NPC). Upon arriving in Beijing for the meeting, he did an interview with CCTV reporter Xiadan. Below is part of the interview talking about the Chinese name of PM2.5 and the relationship between health and the GDP.

记者：细颗粒物、烟尘、细飘尘，在您看来，(PM2.5)什么样的命名更为合适呢？
Reporter: What in your opinion is the better name for PM2.5?
钟南山：确实是很难取一个名，因为2.5是一个指的特定的颗粒，细颗粒太多了，很难理解。我觉得2.5颗粒，它也是颗粒，另外一下子大家都明白了，2.5微米的颗粒。
Zhong Nanshan: It’s really hard to name it. As 2.5 refers to particulate matter and there are too many particulate matters, it’s hard to understand. Besides, I consider that people will understand what particulate matter 2.5 refers to telling from its name, that’s less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter.