Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
臜 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
dirty, filthyzg, 20 strokes, radical ⺼, Very Hard
(za1) T1
  1. 1dirty, filthy
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

(臢)(za1)

The character 臜 (zā) means 'dirty' or 'filthy,' often used to describe something that is unclean or soiled. It is not commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in literary or descriptive contexts where one emphasizes the state of being unclean or contaminated.

Strokes20RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, cleanliness is often associated with health and social status. The importance placed on cleanliness can be seen in traditional practices, such as ensuring one's home is spotless for the Lunar New Year celebrations.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'zany' (sounds like 'za') character who can't stand dirt. Picture them wearing a white outfit that gets splattered with mud (representing 'dirty'). The radical 臜 resembles a person gesturing in disgust at the filth around them, reinforcing the meaning.

Meanings of 臜

(za1)
1dirty, filthy
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 臜

Simplified
Traditional
20Strokes
Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 臜

JasonAmy

Podcast:

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 臜

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a 'zany' (sounds like 'za') character who can't stand dirt. Picture them wearing a white outfit that gets splattered with mud (representing 'dirty'). The radical 臜 resembles a person gesturing in disgust at the filth around them, reinforcing the meaning.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the tone; 臜 is pronounced with a high flat tone (zā). It's important to use it in contexts that require a strong emphasis on cleanliness, as it may not fit in casual conversations. Common collocations include phrases related to hygiene and cleanliness, such as dirty dishes or unkempt places.

HSK Study Tips

While 臜 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, understanding it can enhance your comprehension of more complex adjectives describing cleanliness. Focus on other related terms like 脏 (zāng), which also means 'dirty,' to build a broader vocabulary.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, cleanliness is often associated with health and social status. The importance placed on cleanliness can be seen in traditional practices, such as ensuring one's home is spotless for the Lunar New Year celebrations.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 臜 with 脏 (zāng), which is more frequently used in conversation to mean 'dirty.' A common mistake is using 臜 in casual settings, where a term like 脏 would be more appropriate.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 臜

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 臜

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

meat

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 臜?

Decomposition of 臜

IDS Structure⿰⺼赞
Full Character
=
rou4
left
zan4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 臜?

Write 臜

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 臜

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, cleanliness is often associated with health and social status. The importance placed on cleanliness can be seen in traditional practices, such as ensuring one's home is spotless for the Lunar New Year celebrations.

Word Family of 臜

Words Containing This Character1
dirty
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 臜 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 臜

No, it's more often found in written or literary contexts rather than in daily conversation.