猪仔 (zhū zǎi) — piglet; (historical) exploited Chinese laborer tricked into working abroad

Definition

Literally 'piglet' (a baby pig). Historically also a derogatory term for Chinese laborers tricked and sold abroad in the 19th century — this second sense belongs to a specific historical episode.

noun
piglet(historical) exploited Chinese laborer tricked into working abroad
Measure word · 只
Easily confused

Examples

  • 猪仔。
    Nóng chǎng lǐ yǎng le jǐ zhī zhū zǎi.
    The farm raised a few piglets.
  • 猪仔。
    Zhè zhī zhū zǎi gāng chū shēng sān tiān.
    This piglet was born just three days ago.
  • ，猪仔。
    Shí jiǔ shì jì, hěn duō zhōng guó rén bèi dàng zuò zhū zǎi mài dào guó wài.
    In the 19th century, many Chinese were sold abroad as 'piglets' (exploited laborers).

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.

猪zhūpig
仔zǎi

猪 “pig” with 仔 refers to a young pig; the same form later meant an exploited laborer.

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
犭Written in full as犬quǎndog
Sound part声符shēngfú
者
者zhě猪zhū
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

猪 combines 犭, a dog sign, with 者 as a sound part.

Open 猪 →

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
人人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
子
子zǐ仔zǎi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

仔 puts 人 (person) next to 子, which gives the sound.

Open 仔 →

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