Definitions

zhā slag (in mining or smelting); dregs

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 渣 is a phono-semantic compound denoting remnants or waste. Its left radical 氵 (water) indicates the original liquid context, while the right component 查 provides the phonetic "zhā". Initially, it referred to the insoluble dregs left after straining or consuming a liquid. This meaning later broadened to include any form of residue or debris, like coal slag or food crumbs. In modern slang, 渣 is also used metaphorically to describe a person of poor moral character.

Example Sentences Hide

咖啡里有很多

Kāfēi lǐ yǒu hěnduō zhā.

There are a lot of grounds in the coffee.

他喜欢吃豆

Tā xǐhuān chī dòuzhā.

He likes to eat bean dregs.

清理炉子里的煤

Qīnglǐ lúzi lǐ de méizhā.

Clean the coal cinder in the stove.

不要做社会的人

Bùyào zuò shèhuì de rénzhā.

Don't be the scum of society.

果汁过滤后没有

Guǒzhī guòlǜ hòu méiyǒu zhā.

After filtering, the fruit juice has no pulp.

这些滓必须处理掉。

Zhèxiē zhāzǐ bìxū chǔlǐ diào.

These dregs must be disposed of.

工厂排放的废污染环境。

Gōngchǎng páifàng de fèizhā wūrǎn huánjìng.

The waste residue discharged by the factory pollutes the environment.

尽管他行为恶劣,但不应简单地称其为

Jǐnguǎn tā xíngwéi èliè, dàn bù yīng jiǎndān de chēng qí wéi zhā.

Although his behavior is vile, he should not be simply called scum.