Learn a Chinese Character - 糟 (zāo) - Bad/Spirits

1. Character Basics (汉字基本信息)

Radical: 米 (rice radical, indicates relation to food or fermentation)

Stroke Count: 17

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation (发音)

Pinyin: zāo (first tone)

3. Meaning (含义)

糟 can mean bad, spoiled, or refer to fermented grains, spirits. It can describe a situation or thing in a negative way, or be related to the by - products of fermentation.

4. Common Words (常用词汇)

• 糟糕 (zāo gāo) - Terrible, Awful
• 糟粕 (zāo pò) - Dross, Waste
• 酒糟 (jiǔ zāo) - Distillers' grains

5. Grammar & Usage (语法与用法)

糟 can be used as an adjective to describe a bad situation, or as a noun related to fermentation products. For example, "这情况很糟糕" (This situation is very terrible), "酒糟可以用来喂猪" (Distillers' grains can be used to feed pigs).

6. Cultural Background (文化背景)

In Chinese culture, 糟 has a long - standing connection with fermentation and brewing. Fermented grains and spirits play important roles in traditional festivals and ceremonies. In addition, the concept of "糟" can also be metaphorically used in cultural and philosophical discussions, such as distinguishing between the essence and the dross of things.

7. Example Sentence (例句)

8. Memory Tips (记忆技巧)

Remember 糟 by associating the "米" radical with the process of fermentation which often involves rice or grains. And think of the common words like "糟糕" to link it with the meaning of "bad". You can also visualize the process of making wine from grains, where the leftover distillers' grains are "糟".