脏字 (zāng zì) — obscenity; swear word

Definition

A colloquial term for swear words or curse words — literally 'dirty characters'. More vivid and spoken than the neutral 粗口 (cǔkǒu).

noun
obscenityswear word
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 脏字。
    Shuō huà shí jǐn liàng bié yòng zāng zì.
    Try not to use swear words when speaking.
  • 脏字。
    Zhè piān wén zhāng lǐ chū xiàn le hǎo jǐ gè zāng zì.
    Several curse words appeared in this article.
  • 脏字。
    Tā shēng qì de shí hou zǒng shì dài chū jǐ gè zāng zì.
    When he's angry, he always lets out a few obscenities.

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.

脏zāngdirty
字zìword

字 that are treated as 脏, hence foul words.

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 髒; 脏 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 脏 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (心脏) it is 臟; in others (脏) it is 髒.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
骨骨gǔbone
Sound part声符shēngfú
葬
葬zàng髒zàng
Same sound today

The traditional form 髒 combines 骨 (bone) with 葬 (zàng) for the sound.

Open 脏 →

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
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
子
子zǐ字zì
Same sound today

字 pairs 宀 (roof) with 子 (child); 子 gives the sound, while 宀 relates to the meaning.

Open 字 →

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