waste; spoil; insult; abuse
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesverb
to waste; to spoil; to ruin; to abuse
informalUsed to describe wasting resources, food, or damaging things through carelessness or deliberate abuse. In spoken language, the first syllable is often pronounced with a rising tone (zuó jian).
Bù不
yào要
zuò作
jian践
liáng粮
shi食
，
lì粒
lì粒
jiē皆
xīn辛
kǔ苦
。
Don't waste food; every grain comes from hard work.
Zhè这
me么
hǎo好
de的
yī衣
fu服
，
bié别
zuò作
jian践
le了
。
These are such nice clothes; don't ruin them.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Tā他
zuò作
jian践
zì自
jǐ己
de的
shēn身
tǐ体
，
tiān天
tiān天
áo熬
yè夜
。
He is abusing his own body by staying up late every night.
verb
to insult; to humiliate; to treat with contempt
informalUsed when referring to mistreating people, causing them to lose face or dignity. Often implies a power imbalance where the subject is being degraded.
Nǐ你
bié别
zuò作
jian践
rén人
le了
，
tā他
bì毕
jìng竟
shì是
nǐ你
dì弟
di弟
。
Stop humiliating him; after all, he is your younger brother.
Tā他
nà那
yàng样
shuō说
huà话
fēn分
míng明
shì是
zài在
zuò作
jian践
nǐ你
，
nǐ你
zěn怎
me么
néng能
rěn忍
？
The way he spoke was clearly meant to humiliate you; how can you endure it?
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Bù不
yào要
zuò作
jian践
cán残
jí疾
rén人
，
tā他
men们
hé和
wǒ我
men们
yī一
yàng样
yǒu有
zūn尊
yán严
。
Don't mistreat people with disabilities; they have dignity just like us.