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杂种 (zá chóng) — (biology) hybrid, crossbreed; (derogatory) bastard, son of a bitch (strong insult)

Definition

Two distinct senses: a neutral biology term for a hybrid plant or animal, and a very strong personal insult ('bastard'). The insult is vulgar and offensive — do not use it casually.

noun
(biology) hybridcrossbreed(derogatory) bastardson of a bitch (strong insult)

Examples

  • 杂种。
    Zhè zhǒng zá chóng yù mǐ chǎn liàng hěn gāo.
    This kind of hybrid corn has a very high yield.
  • “杂种”。
    Tā qì dé mà le yī shēng "zá chóng".
    He was so angry that he shouted “Bastard!”
  • 杂种，。
    Suī rán tā shì zá chóng gǒu, dàn xìng gé hěn hǎo.
    Although it is a mixed-breed dog, it has a good temperament.

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.

杂zámixed
种zhǒngbreed

杂 (mixed) and 种 (breed) together mean a mixed breed or hybrid.

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 雜; 杂 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
衣衣yī
Sound part声符shēngfú
集
集jí雜zá
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 雜 pairs 衣 (clothes) with 集 as a sound part, originally referring to mixed colours, perhaps in dyed clothes; the simplified 杂 is a later shorthand.

Open 杂 →

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
禾禾hérice
Sound part声符shēngfú
中
中zhōng种zhǒng
Same sound today

种 pairs 禾, which shows rice or grain and fits meanings like plant and seed, with 中, which gives its sound.

Open 种 →
Appears in
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