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March 24, 2026
杂(襍)zá(za2)
The character 杂 (zá) means 'mixed' or 'miscellaneous.' It is commonly used to describe a variety of items or elements that are not uniform. This term can refer to anything from mixed ingredients in cooking to a collection of diverse ideas or objects.
Strokes6Radical木Frequency#7135DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese cuisine, the concept of mixing different ingredients (杂) is fundamental, as many traditional dishes are known for their diverse flavors and textures, highlighting the importance of harmony in variety.
Memory Tip
Imagine a zany chef (zá sounds like 'zany') who is mixing a crazy assortment of ingredients in a large bowl, representing the idea of 'mixing' or 'various'. The radical 材 (wood/structure) suggests that different elements are combined to create something new.
Meanings of 杂
zá(za2)
1mixed
2miscellaneous
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 杂
杂Simplified
襍Traditional
6Strokes
木Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#7135Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 杂
Podcast: 杂
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AI Study Notes for 杂
Quick Contrast
杂 (zá) vs 混 (hùn) — use 杂 for a broader assortment, while 混 emphasizes blending or mixing elements together.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a zany chef (zá sounds like 'zany') who is mixing a crazy assortment of ingredients in a large bowl, representing the idea of 'mixing' or 'various'. The radical 材 (wood/structure) suggests that different elements are combined to create something new.
Usage Notes
This character is often used in combination with other words, such as 杂志 (zázhì, magazine) and 杂货 (záhuò, miscellaneous goods). Be careful with the tone; the first tone (zā) is a different character and has a different meaning, so pronunciation is key.
HSK Study Tips
Although 杂 is not included in HSK levels, it shares roots with other words commonly studied, like 杂志 (magazine). Focus on recognizing it in context to understand its usage alongside related vocabulary.
Cultural Note
In Chinese cuisine, the concept of mixing different ingredients (杂) is fundamental, as many traditional dishes are known for their diverse flavors and textures, highlighting the importance of harmony in variety.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 杂 with other similar-sounding words. For instance, using杂 instead of 其他 (qítā, 'other') in a sentence like '这是杂书' (This is a miscellaneous book) instead of '这是其他书' (This is another book) can lead to misunderstandings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 杂
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Grammar Patterns of 杂
杂 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 6 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.
The growing problem is underlined in the latest issue of the Lancet.
10
一场严重的森林大火的蔓延使得形势更加复杂。
yī cháng yán zhòng de sēn lín dà huǒ de màn yán shǐ dé xíng shì gēng jiā fù zá。
The situation was complicated by the spread of a serious forest fire.
Cultural Notes for 杂
💡Did you know?
'杂' is often used in Chinese culture to describe a variety of items in food, art, and literature, reflecting a holistic view of diversity and complexity in life.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese cuisine, the concept of mixing different ingredients (杂) is fundamental, as many traditional dishes are known for their diverse flavors and textures, highlighting the importance of harmony in variety.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In many cultures, particularly in the West, there's a tendency to categorize items strictly. In contrast, Chinese culture often embraces the idea of mixing and blending, as seen in traditional dishes and art forms.
Word Family of 杂
Compounds1
雑
Words Containing This Character20
杂志zázhìmagazine雜誌
复杂fùzácomplicated複雜
杂种hybrid雜種
杂zámixed雜
杂交zájiāoto hybridize雜交
杂志社magazine publisher雜誌社
杂货店grocery store雜貨店
杂技zájìacrobatics雜技
杂物junk雜物
杂草weeds雜草
夹杂jiāzáto mingle夾雜
复杂性complexity複雜性
杂耍a sideshow雜耍
杂碎offal雜碎
杂质impurity雜質
嘈杂cáozánoisy嘈雜
混杂to mix混雜
杂乱in a mess雜亂
错综复杂cuòzōngfùzátangled and complicated (idiom)錯綜複雜
繁杂many繁雜
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 杂志 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 杂
杂 (zá) is relatively common, especially in more advanced vocabulary as it appears in phrases related to mixed items or diversity. It is included in HSK level 6, indicating its usage in more complex contexts.
杂 (zá) refers to a mix or variety of items, while 乱 (luàn) often implies disorder or chaos. While both can describe a lack of organization, 杂 emphasizes the presence of different kinds, whereas 乱 suggests a lack of control.
杂 (zá) means 'miscellaneous' or 'various.' It can also refer to the act of mixing different items together. This character is often used in contexts where diversity or a mixture is being discussed.
杂 (zá) can be used in sentences to describe a mix of things. For example, you might say '这是一堆杂物' (zhè shì yī duī zá wù), meaning 'This is a pile of miscellaneous items.' It's often used to convey the idea of variety.
杂 (zá) emphasizes variety and mixing, while 其它 (qítā) means 'other' or 'the rest' and does not imply mixing.
Yes, you can describe a group of people as 杂 if they come from various backgrounds or have different characteristics.
Yes, it can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but be mindful of the specific collocations.
