杂

襍/雜

zá

九 + 朩

HSK 3.0Level 6

Definitions

zá (adjective) mixed; miscellaneous; various

zá (verb) to mix

Etymology

Simplified form of 雜. Phonosemantic compound. 衣 represents the meaning and 集 represents the sound.

About

The traditional form 雜 is a phonosemantic compound: 衣 (clothing) conveys the meaning, while 集 (a bird on a tree) indicates the sound. It first denoted garments made of various colors or mixed materials, and later came to mean anything mixed or miscellaneous. The simplified character 杂 replaces the original components with 九 (nine, suggesting many) and 木 (tree), creating a new structure that conveys a gathering of multiple things. This also obliquely echoes the earlier bird-in-a-tree image.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这里有各种蔬菜和水果。

Zhèlǐ yǒu gèzhǒng shūcài hé shuǐguǒ.

There are various vegetables and fruits here.

这本书的内容有点复杂。

Zhè běn shū de nèiróng yǒudiǎn fùzá.

The content of this book is a bit complicated.

我的房间非常杂乱。

Wǒ de fángjiān fēicháng záluàn.

My room is very messy.

超市旁边新开了一家杂货店。

Chāoshì pángbiān xīn kāile yì jiā záhuòdiàn.

A new grocery store opened next to the supermarket。

现代社会的信息非常庞杂。

Xiàndài shèhuì de xìnxī fēicháng pángzá。

Information in modern society is vast and mixed。

这种杂交水稻的产量很高。

Zhè zhǒng zájiāo shuǐdào de chǎnliàng hěn gāo。

This hybrid rice has a very high yield。

他是一个兴趣十分驳杂的人。

Tā shì yí gè xìngqù shífēn bózá de rén。

He is a person with a wide and diverse range of interests。

我们要学会包容多元与杂音。

Wǒmen yào xuéhuì bāoróng duōyuán yǔ záyīn。

We must learn to tolerate diversity and dissent。

Related Characters

Component: 九

Component: 朩

杂