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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
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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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.
Memory Mnemonic
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).
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.
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.
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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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.
dài wǒ ér zǐ bǐ dé wài chū chī fàn jiǎn zhí zāo gāo tòu le。
Taking my son Peter to a restaurant was a nightmare.
3
他神经极为紧张！比我还糟！
tā shén jīng jí wéi jǐn zhāng！ ！ bǐ wǒ huán！
He was in a blue funk! Worse than me!
4
莫利笑话我糟糕的方向感。
mò lì xiào huà wǒ zāo gāo de fāng xiàng gǎn。
Molly razzed me about my rotten sense of direction.
5
最糟糕的事情是，你给朋友打电话，而他们却出去了。
zuì zāo gāo de shì qíng shì， ， nǐ gěi péng yǒu dǎ diàn， huà ， ér tā mén què chū。
The worst thing is when you call friends and they've gone out.
6
更糟的是，又开始下雨了。
gēng zāo de shì， ， yòu kāi shǐ xià yǔ。
To make matters worse, it started to rain again.
7
我们陷入了难以言表的糟糕处境。
wǒ mén xiàn rù le nán yǐ yán biǎo de zāo gāo chǔ jìng。
We were in a disaster situation that defies description.
8
这绝对是我吃过的最糟糕的食物。
zhè jué duì shì wǒ chī guò de zuì zāo gāo de shí wù。
It was absolutely the worst food I have ever had.
9
英格兰队今晚为欧洲足球做了一次糟糕的宣传。
yīng gé lán duì jīn wǎn wéi ōu zhōu zú qiú zuò le yī cì zāo gāo de xuān chuán。
The England team were a poor advertisement for European football tonight.
10
他们在去年选举中如此糟糕的表现并不奇怪。
tā mén zài qù nián xuǎn jǔ zhōng rú cǐ zāo gāo de biǎo xiàn bìng bù qí guài。
It is not surprising they did so badly in last year's elections.
Cultural Notes for 糟
🏮Cultural insight
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.
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chaos一團糟
糟蹋zāotàto waste
乱糟糟chaotic亂糟糟
糟粕dross
酒糟wine lees
糟践to waste糟踐
醪糟sweet fermented rice
糟踏to waste
乌七八糟obscene烏七八糟
去其糟粕to remove the dross
糟糠junk
酒糟鼻brandy nose
弄糟to spoil
污七八糟obscene
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
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.
