Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
仔zǎi(zai3)
The character 仔 (zǎi) primarily refers to young animals or offspring, particularly in the context of domestic animals. It can also describe something small or meticulous, often used to convey care or attention to detail. In everyday usage, it can imply a diminutive form, often expressing affection or delicacy.
Strokes5Radical亻Frequency#3238DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the term 仔 (zǎi) is often used affectionately for pets or young children, reflecting the value placed on nurturing and caring for the young. The concept of caring for young animals is intertwined with traditional agricultural practices.
Memory Tip
Imagine a small, cute puppy (仔, zǎi) sitting under a table, being careful not to bump its head (the character has a 'careful' component). The '亻' radical on the left suggests it relates to living beings, while the '子' on the right indicates youth, combining to create the image of a meticulous little creature.
Meanings of 仔
zǎi(zai3)
primary
1meticulous
2(of domestic animals or fowls) young
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
Play it, then pick what 仔 means.
About 仔
仔Simplified
5Strokes
亻Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#3238Frequency Rank
Podcast: 仔
Podcast: 仔
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 仔
Quick Contrast
仔 (zǎi) vs 幼 (yòu) — use 仔 for young domestic animals, while 幼 refers more generally to young or immature beings.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone; 'zǎi' (仔) should not be confused with 'zāi' (灾), which means disaster. It is commonly used in informal contexts, often in discussions about pets or children. Collocations include terms for young animals like 小仔 (xiǎo zǎi, 'little one').
HSK Study Tips
While 仔 (zǎi) is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it complements concepts at HSK Level 2, such as 小 (xiǎo, 'small') and 养 (yǎng, 'to raise'). Focus on practicing pronunciation and understanding its diminutive connotation.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 仔 (zǎi) with related terms like 崽 (zǎi) or 子 (zǐ). For example, saying '我有一个仔' (Wǒ yǒu yī gè zǐ - 'I have a son') is incorrect; it should be '我有一个孩子' (Wǒ yǒu yī gè háizi - 'I have a child').
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 仔
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 仔 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 仔 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
How Well Do You Know 仔?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 仔 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
The character 仔 (zǎi) primarily refers to young animals or offspring, particularly in the context of domestic animals. It can also describe something small or meticulous, often used to convey care or attention to detail. In everyday usage, it can imply a diminutive form, often expressing affection or delicacy.
When to use 仔
Be cautious with the tone; 'zǎi' (仔) should not be confused with 'zāi' (灾), which means disaster. It is commonly used in informal contexts, often in discussions about pets or children. Collocations include terms for young animals like 小仔 (xiǎo zǎi, 'little one').
仔 or something close to it
仔 (zǎi) vs 幼 (yòu) — use 仔 for young domestic animals, while 幼 refers more generally to young or immature beings.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 仔 (zǎi) with related terms like 崽 (zǎi) or 子 (zǐ). For example, saying '我有一个仔' (Wǒ yǒu yī gè zǐ - 'I have a son') is incorrect; it should be '我有一个孩子' (Wǒ yǒu yī gè háizi - 'I have a child').
Write 仔
仔
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 仔 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 仔
仔 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
A close look at the statistics reveals a troubling picture.
Ask Jason
Have a question about 仔?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
Cultural Notes for 仔
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, young animals are often seen as symbols of new beginnings and vitality. The character 仔, representing young animals, reflects this cultural appreciation for youth and the importance of nurturing the next generation.
Word Family of 仔
Words Containing This Character13
仔细zǐxìcareful仔細
仔zǎimeticulous
牛仔cowboy
牛仔裤niúzǎikùjeans牛仔褲
仔猪piglet仔豬
靓仔handsome young man靚仔
狗仔队paparazzi狗仔隊
打工仔young worker
产仔to bear a litter產仔
湾仔Wan Chai district of Hong Kong灣仔
牛仔布denim
歌仔戏type of opera from Taiwan and Fujian歌仔戲
仔畜newborn animal
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 仔
What does 仔细 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 仔
仔 (zǎi) and 崽 (zǎi) are variants that refer to young animals. While they can often be used interchangeably, 仔 may carry additional meanings such as 'meticulous'. In certain contexts, one might be preferred over the other based on regional usage or specific phrases.
Common phrases include 仔肩 (zǐ jiān), which refers to a specific type of shoulder in anatomy or clothing. Additionally, you might hear it in colloquial expressions that emphasize youth or care in handling domestic animals.
仔 (zǎi, zī) can refer to a young animal or fowl, often used in contexts related to domestic animals. It can also mean 'meticulous' in certain contexts. This character is a variant of 崽, which also means 'young' or 'offspring'.
You can use 仔 to describe young animals, for example, '这只仔猪很可爱' (zhè zhī zǎi zhū hěn kě'ài), meaning 'This piglet is very cute.' In more formal contexts, it can also be used to describe someone meticulous or careful.
Both characters can refer to young animals, but 仔 (zǎi) is often used in a more affectionate context, while 崽 (zǎi) is more general.
Yes, 仔 can describe something small or meticulous, but it's primarily associated with young animals.
It is mostly used in informal contexts, especially when discussing pets or children.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 仔?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.
A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.
