Chinese Character: 杂
1. Character Basics
Radical: 木/mù (wood), 九/jiǔ (nine)
Stroke Count: 6 strokes
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: Zá (Second tone)
3. Meaning
Basic Meaning: Mixed; miscellaneous; diverse; assorted
Extended Meaning: Disorderly; confused; chaotic; blended
Additional Meaning: Used to describe things that are not pure or uniform
4. Common Words
- 杂志 (zázhì) - Magazine
Example: 我每天都看这本杂志。 (Wǒ měitiān dōu kàn zhè běn zázhì.) - I read this magazine every day.
- 复杂 (fùzá) - Complex; complicated
Example: 这个问题很复杂。 (Zhège wèntí hěn fùzá.) - This problem is very complex.
- 杂乱 (záluàn) - Messy; chaotic
Example: 房间里很杂乱。 (Fángjiān lǐ hěn záluàn.) - The room is very messy.
- 杂物 (záwù) - Sundries; odds and ends
Example: 抽屉里有很多杂物。 (Chōuti lǐ yǒu hěnduō záwù.) - There are many odds and ends in the drawer.
- 杂交 (zájiāo) - Hybrid; crossbreed
Example: 这是一种杂交水稻。 (Zhè shì yī zhǒng zájiāo shuǐdào.) - This is a type of hybrid rice.
5. Grammar & Usage
As an adjective: Describes things that are mixed, miscellaneous, or not pure.
- Structure: 杂 + Noun (e.g., 杂物 (záwù) - sundries)
- Structure: 杂 + Adjective (e.g., 杂乱 (záluàn) - messy)
Common collocations:
- 杂乱无章 (záluànwúzhāng) - Messy and without order
- 错综复杂 (cuòzōngfùzá) - Intricate and complex
- 杂草丛生 (zácǎocóngshēng) - Overgrown with weeds
6. Cultural Background
The character 杂 has been used in Chinese to describe mixed or diverse things for thousands of years. Its original meaning was related to various kinds of plants growing together.
In Chinese culture, 杂 has both positive and negative connotations. On one hand, it can represent diversity and richness, as seen in 杂技 (zájì - acrobatics) or 杂艺 (záyì - various arts). On the other hand, it can indicate disorder or impurity.
In traditional Chinese cuisine, 杂烩 (záhuì - hodgepodge) is a popular dish that combines various ingredients, reflecting the Chinese appreciation for diverse flavors and textures.
The concept of 杂 also appears in Chinese philosophy, where it relates to the idea of the interconnectedness of all things and the natural diversity of the universe.
7. Example Sentence
Sentence 1: 书架上有很多杂志。 (Shūjià shàng yǒu hěnduō zázhì.) - There are many magazines on the bookshelf.
Sentence 2: 他的工作很复杂。 (Tā de gōngzuò hěn fùzá.) - His work is very complex.
Sentence 3: 请把这些杂物整理一下。 (Qǐng bǎ zhèxiē záwù zhěnglǐ yīxià.) - Please tidy up these odds and ends.
8. Memory Tips
1. Break it down: The character 杂 consists of 九 (nine) on top of 木 (wood). Imagine nine different kinds of wood mixed together - that's "miscellaneous"!
2. Visual association: Think of the 九 radical as several different items, and the 木 as a base. Together they represent various things collected on a base.
3. Word association: Associate 杂 with common words like 杂志 (magazine) or 复杂 (complex) to reinforce its meaning.
4. Stroke order: Practice writing the character in the correct stroke order:撇, 横折弯钩, 横, 竖, 撇, 捺.
5. Create your own sentences: Use 杂 in sentences to describe mixed or diverse things in your daily life.