滓 (zǐ): dregs; sediment

Meanings

杯子底有一些渣滓。

Bēizi dǐ yǒu yìxiē zhāzǐ.

There is some sediment at the bottom of the cup.

他鄙视那些被称为社会渣滓的人。

Tā bǐshì nàxiē bèi chēngwéi shèhuì zhāzǐ de rén.

He despised those who were called the dregs of society.

usage

Most often seen in 渣滓 (dregs), which can mean literal sediment or, figuratively, the worthless element of society.

radical

氵 shuǐ

water

The three-drop water radical (the left-side form of 水) marks 滓 as the matter that settles out of a liquid, the literal dregs.

phonetic

宰 zǎi

to slaughter; govern

Contributes the reading, close to zǐ; it carries no meaning here and works purely as the phonetic element.

滓 zǐ