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渣滓 (zhā zǐ) — dregs; residue; sediment; (figurative) scum (of society); undesirable elements

Definition

Literary word for 'dregs / sediment' — the leftover solids at the bottom of a liquid, or (figuratively) the worst people in society. Stronger and more written than plain 废物 or 垃圾.

noun
dregsresiduesediment(figurative) scum (of society)undesirable elements

Examples

  • 渣滓，。
    Kā fēi zhā zǐ bú yào dào jìn shuǐ chí, huì dǔ zhù guǎn dào.
    Don't pour coffee grounds down the sink; they'll clog the pipes.
  • 渣滓。
    Zhè xiē shè huì zhā zǐ zuì zhōng shòu dào le fǎ lǜ de chéng fá.
    These scum of society were eventually punished by the law.
  • 渣滓。
    Píng dǐ de zhā zǐ xū yào guò lǜ hòu cái néng yǐn yòng.
    The sediment at the bottom of the bottle needs to be filtered before drinking.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

渣zhādregs
滓zǐsediment

渣滓 is 渣 and 滓, both leftover residue.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
查
查chá渣zhā(r)
Same sound today

渣 combines 氵 (water) with 查, which gives the sound.

Open 渣 →

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
宰
宰zǎi滓zǐ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

滓 pairs 氵 (the full form 水, water) with 宰, which supplies the sound.

Appears in
Materials & Substances

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