zou1糟
Definition
Dregs, yeast, or grains from brewing wine; pickled in wine; ruined, messy, or in a bad state.
- dregs or yeast left over from brewing wine
- to pickle in wine
- ruined; spoiled; messy; in a bad state
How it's used
Primarily functions as a descriptive adjective for something that has deteriorated into a state of disorder or poor quality. It carries a strong sense of disappointment or frustration, often implying that a situation or object was once in a better condition. When used in the context of food, it specifically refers to the technique of pickling or marinating in wine, though this is less common in everyday speech than the sense of being messy or ruined.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 糟糕, which is a common Mandarin loanword used to express that something is terrible or bad. While 糟 can mean messy or ruined, using it as a standalone exclamation of 'terrible' sounds unnatural compared to the more common 弊 or 慘.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
