How common it is
糟 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
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Pronunciation focus
Say zāo slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
糟表示事情不好或东西乱了。
Zāo biǎoshì shìqing bù hǎo huò dōngxi luàn le.
Bad means something is not good or things are in a mess.
Context note
如果东西掉在地上弄脏了，我们可以说糟了。
Rúguǒ dōngxi diào zài dìshàng nòng zāng le, wǒmen kěyǐ shuō zāo le.
If something falls on the ground and gets dirty, we can say oh no.
5 examples
糟了，我忘记带铅笔了。
zāo le， wǒ wàng jì dài qiān bǐ le。
Oh no, I forgot to bring my pencil.
今天天气真糟，下雨了。
jīn tiān tiān qì zhēn zāo， xià yǔ le。
The weather today is really bad, it's raining.
房间太糟了，需要整理。
fáng jiān tài zāo le， xū yào zhěng lǐ。
The room is too messy, it needs tidying up.
糟了，我把牛奶洒了。
zāo le， wǒ bǎ niú nǎi sǎ le。
Oh no, I spilled the milk.
这个苹果糟了，不能吃了。
zhè ge píng guǒ zāo le， bù néng chī le。
This apple is bad, it can't be eaten.
5 mini stories
小明的作业本掉水里了。他说糟了，字都花了。
xiǎo míng de zuò yè běn diào shuǐ lǐ le。 tā shuō zāo le， zì dōu huā le。
Xiao Ming's homework book fell into water. He said oh no, the words are all smudged.
小红不小心打破了杯子。她觉得很糟。
xiǎo hóng bù xiǎo xīn dǎ pò le bēi zi。 tā jué de hěn zāo。
Xiao Hong accidentally broke a cup. She felt very bad.
小华发现玩具坏了。他说糟了，不能玩了。
xiǎo huá fà xiàn wán jù huài le。 tā shuō zāo le， bù néng wán le。
Xiao Hua found the toy was broken. He said oh no, can't play with it.
小丽把颜料弄到衣服上了。妈妈觉得糟了。
xiǎo lì bǎ yán liào nòng dào yī fu shàng le。 mā ma jué de zāo le。
Xiao Li got paint on her clothes. Mom thought it was bad.
小刚的蛋糕烤焦了。他说糟了，不能吃了。
xiǎo gāng de dàn gāo kǎo jiāo le。 tā shuō zāo le， bù néng chī le。
Xiao Gang's cake got burnt. He said oh no, can't eat it.