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糟 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
糟
zāo
dregs
HSK 5, v, 17 strokes, radical 米, rank #595, Hard
糟
zāo
draff
HSK 5, v, 17 strokes, radical 米, rank #595, Hard
糟
zāo
pickled in wine
HSK 5, v, 17 strokes, radical 米, rank #595, Hard
糟
zāo
rotten
HSK 5, v, 17 strokes, radical 米, rank #595, Hard
糟
zāo
messy
HSK 5, v, 17 strokes, radical 米, rank #595, Hard
糟
zāo
ruined
HSK 5, v, 17 strokes, radical 米, rank #595, Hard
糟
zāo
sediment, dregs; to waste, to spoil
HSK 5, v, 17 strokes, radical 米, rank #595, Hard
zāo(zao1)zao T1
1dregs
2draff
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March 24, 2026
糟zāo(zao1)
The character 糟 (zāo) primarily refers to something that is spoiled, rotten, or messy. It can describe food that has gone bad, as well as situations that are disorganized or ruined. In culinary contexts, it may also refer to the dregs or sediment left after brewing or fermentation processes.
Strokes17Radical米Frequency#595DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese cuisine, fermented foods are common, and the term 糟 is often associated with traditional brewing methods. For instance, '糟糕' (zāogāo) reflects a cultural tendency to express dissatisfaction humorously.
Memory tip
Think of 糟 (zāo) as a scene in a kitchen where food has spoiled—imagine a messy counter with dregs of spoiled ingredients. The character is made up of 米 (rice) and 造 (to make), symbolizing something that was once edible (rice) but is now a messy ruin (spoiled).
Meanings of 糟
zāo(zao1)
1dregs
2draff
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 糟
糟Simplified
17Strokes
米Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#595Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 糟
Podcast: 糟
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AI study notes for 糟
Quick Contrast
糟 (zāo) vs 坏 (huài) — choose 糟 when emphasizing spoilage or messiness, while 坏 refers more generally to bad quality.
Usage Notes
糟 (zāo) is often used in informal contexts to express disappointment or describe a mess. A common collocation is '糟糕' (zāogāo), which means 'terrible' or 'awful.' Be cautious with the tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning of the word.
HSK Study Tips
Although 糟 (zāo) is not on the HSK list, understanding it can help learners grasp more complex phrases and idiomatic expressions. Focus on its usage in everyday conversations, as it may appear in discussions about food or personal experiences.
Common Mistakes
Learners may confuse 糟 (zāo) with similar-sounding words. For example, saying '我的工作糟糕' (My work is dregs) instead of '我的工作糟糕了' (My work has gone terribly wrong) can lead to misunderstandings. Always ensure you use the correct context for clarity.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 糟
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糟 = 米 + 曹. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 糟
IDS Structure⿰米曹
糟Full character
=
米Mi3
left
曹Cao2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 糟?
How to say dregs in Chinese
“dregs” in Chinese is糟zāo
The character 糟 (zāo) primarily refers to something that is spoiled, rotten, or messy. It can describe food that has gone bad, as well as situations that are disorganized or ruined. In culinary contexts, it may also refer to the dregs or sediment left after brewing or fermentation processes.
When to use 糟
糟 (zāo) is often used in informal contexts to express disappointment or describe a mess. A common collocation is '糟糕' (zāogāo), which means 'terrible' or 'awful.' Be cautious with the tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning of the word.
糟 or something close to it
糟 (zāo) vs 坏 (huài) — choose 糟 when emphasizing spoilage or messiness, while 坏 refers more generally to bad quality.
What learners get wrong
Learners may confuse 糟 (zāo) with similar-sounding words. For example, saying '我的工作糟糕' (My work is dregs) instead of '我的工作糟糕了' (My work has gone terribly wrong) can lead to misunderstandings. Always ensure you use the correct context for clarity.
Write 糟
糟
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Grammar patterns of 糟
糟 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 7 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
It is not surprising they did so badly in last year's elections.
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Word Family of 糟
Words containing this character17
糟糕zāogāotoo bad
糟zāodregs
乱七八糟luànqībāzāoat sixes and sevens亂七八糟
一团糟yìtuánzāochaos一團糟
糟蹋zāotàto waste
乱糟糟luànzāozāochaotic亂糟糟
糟粕zāopòdross
酒糟jiǔzāowine lees
糟践zāojianto waste糟踐
醪糟láozāosweet fermented rice
糟踏zāotàto waste
乌七八糟wūqībāzāoobscene烏七八糟
去其糟粕qùqízāopòto remove the dross
糟糠zāokāngjunk
酒糟鼻jiǔzāobíbrandy nose
弄糟nòngzāoto spoil
污七八糟wūqībāzāoobscene
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 糟
What does 糟糕 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 糟
糟 (zāo) appears in expressions like '糟糕' (zāogāo), which means 'terrible' or 'awful.' This term is often used to express frustration or disappointment in a situation.
Synonyms for 糟 (zāo) include 乱 (luàn), which means messy, and 坏 (huài), which means bad or spoiled. Each synonym carries its own nuances, so the context in which you use them can vary.
You can use 糟 (zāo) in phrases like '这件事真糟' (Zhè jiàn shì zhēn zāo), which means 'This matter is really messed up.' It can also describe food, as in '这菜糟了' (Zhè cài zāo le), meaning 'This dish has gone bad.'
糟 (zāo) can refer to dregs or draff in a literal sense, but it is also commonly used to describe something that is rotten, messy, or ruined. In some contexts, it can indicate a negative situation or condition, such as when something goes wrong.
It can describe food that is spoiled, as in '这个菜糟了' (This dish has gone bad).
Yes, it can also refer to messy or ruined situations, such as '他的计划糟了' (His plan is ruined).
It is generally more informal and is best used in casual conversations.
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