verb · to contract a disease or acquire negative habits

他因为交友不慎，染了一身坏毛病。

verb · to soil, pollute, or affect something in a negative way

洁白的纸上染了一点淡墨迹。

verb · to apply color to cloth, hair, or other materials by soaking in a liquid

她把白布染成了蓝色。

verb · to apply thin layers of color or ink in traditional painting

画家在山水画的背景中染了一层淡墨。