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乱糟糟 (luàn zāo zāo) — (of appearance, sound, or situation) messy, chaotic, in a complete mess

Definition

Used as an adjective-like predicate meaning 'in a complete mess' — appearance, sound, thoughts, or a scene. Negate with 不 (不乱糟糟的) and often modifies the subject with 的, as in 心里乱糟糟的.

verb
(of appearance, sound, or situation) messychaoticin a complete mess

Examples

  • 乱糟糟，。
    Fáng jiān lǐ luàn zāo zāo de, gāi shōu shi yí xià le.
    The room is a mess; it's time to tidy up.
  • 乱糟糟，。
    Xīn lǐ luàn zāo zāo de, shén me dōu xiǎng bù chū lái.
    My mind is in a mess; I can't think of anything.
  • 乱糟糟，。
    Jiē shàng luàn zāo zāo de, quán shì rén hé chē.
    The street is chaotic, full of people and cars.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

乱luànmessy
糟糟
糟zāo糟zāo

The disorder of 乱 is reinforced by the doubled 糟糟, giving a chaotic state.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 亂; 乱 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
乚Written in full as乙yǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
𤔔
𤔔𤔔亂luàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 亂 contains 𤔔, a drawing of combing tangled threads, and 乙; the simplified 乱 is only a later shorthand, not the historical shape.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
米米mǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
曹
曹cáo糟zāo
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

糟 pairs 米 (rice) with 曹, which gives its sound; the rice side points to liquor made from fermented rice, originally meaning unfiltered.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
米米mǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
曹
曹cáo糟zāo
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

糟 pairs 米 (rice) with 曹, which gives its sound; the rice side points to liquor made from fermented rice, originally meaning unfiltered.

Appears in
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