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兔崽子 (tù zǎi zǐ) — (derogatory) brat, bastard, scoundrel (used as an insult)

Definition

A strong, colloquial insult meaning 'brat' or 'bastard,' literally 'rabbit's young.' Always derogatory — used to curse someone you despise, especially in anger.

noun
(derogatory) bratbastardscoundrel (used as an insult)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 兔崽子，！
    Nǐ zhè ge tù zǎi zǐ, jìng gǎn piàn wǒ!
    You little bastard, how dare you cheat me!
  • 兔崽子。
    Tā mà nà ge xiǎo tōu shì tù zǎi zǐ.
    He called that thief a bastard.
  • 兔崽子，。
    Bié lǐ nà ge tù zǎi zǐ, tā zhī huì rě má fan.
    Don't mind that scoundrel, he only causes trouble.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

兔tùrabbit
崽子young animal/brat
崽zǎiyoung animal子zǐ
后缀Suffix

兔 evokes a small, contemptible animal, and 崽子 suggests a worthless young offspring, together forming an insult.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 兔 comes from drawing a rabbit.

Open 兔 →

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
山山shānmountain
Sound part声符shēngfú
思
思sī崽zǎi
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

崽 pairs 山 (mountain) with 思; 思 gives the sound, and 山 gives the meaning clue.

Open 崽 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →
Appears in
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