To waste, ruin, or insult something or someone by not showing proper respect or care.
Word in 30 Seconds
- To waste or ruin something valuable.
- To spoil food or resources through neglect.
- To mistreat, insult, or fail to appreciate someone.
Overview
- 1概述：‘糟蹋’是一个带有强烈感情色彩的动词，主要表达对某种有价值事物的‘不珍惜’或‘毁坏’。它不仅限于物质层面的浪费，还延伸到精神和人格层面的损害。2) 用法模式：常用于‘糟蹋 + 名词’结构。常见的宾语包括粮食、东西、人才、名声或身体。在口语中，‘蹋’字常读轻声。3) 常见语境：最常见的语境是教育孩子不要浪费食物（糟蹋粮食）；在职场中，形容优秀的人才没有得到重用（糟蹋人才）；在艺术评价中，形容劣质的改编破坏了原作的美感（糟蹋作品）。4) 词义辨析：‘糟蹋’与‘浪费’相比，‘浪费’侧重于数量上的无谓消耗，而‘糟蹋’侧重于对事物品质的破坏或主观上的不尊重。与‘蹂躏’相比，‘糟蹋’的语意范围更广，既可指轻微的浪费，也可指严重的侮辱。
Examples
别糟蹋粮食，碗里的饭要吃干净。
everydayDon't waste food; finish all the rice in your bowl.
这种不负责任的改编简直是在糟蹋经典名著。
formalThis irresponsible adaptation is simply ruining a classic masterpiece.
你这么晚才回来，真是糟蹋了我辛苦做的一桌菜。
informalYou came back so late; you've really wasted the table of food I worked so hard to cook.
资源的过度开采是对自然环境的严重糟蹋。
academicOver-exploitation of resources is a severe desecration of the natural environment.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
糟蹋自己
to let oneself go / to ruin one's own health or life
被糟蹋了
to be ruined/wasted
Often Confused With
'Làngfèi' is neutral and focuses on quantitative excess (using too much), while 'zāotà' is more emotional and implies ruining the quality or value.
'Róulìn' is much stronger and more formal, often used for physical trampling, oppression, or wartime atrocities.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
The word is generally neutral to informal in register. In written Chinese, it can be used for social criticism. When used for food, it sounds like a scolding. When used for art or people, it carries a sense of 'desecration' or 'insult'.
Common Mistakes
Do not use 'zāotà' for simple, neutral consumption of resources where no 'ruining' is involved. For example, 'I used two pens' is not 'zāotà' unless you broke them on purpose. Also, ensure the object is something that has inherent value.
Tips
Focus on the loss of value
Use 'zāotà' when something good is being ruined or treated as if it has no value.
Contextual sensitivity with people
When applied to people, it can mean severe mistreatment or sexual assault, so use it carefully in social contexts.
Traditional Chinese thriftiness
This word is frequently used by older generations to emphasize the virtue of saving and the sin of wasting food.
Word Origin
The character '糟' (zāo) refers to wine dregs (worthless remains), and '蹋' (tà) means to step on. Together, it implies stepping on something until it becomes worthless dregs.
Cultural Context
In Chinese culture, thrift (节俭) is a core virtue. 'Zāotà liángshí' (wasting food) was traditionally considered a sin that would bring bad luck or divine punishment, reflecting the agrarian roots of the society.
Memory Tip
Think of the first character '糟' (dregs/mess). When you 'zāotà' something, you turn something good into a 'mess' or 'dregs'.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questions不是。虽然常用于形容浪费食物，但它也可以形容浪费时间、损坏名誉、不重用人才或伤害身体。
它是一个贬义词，通常带有批评、遗憾或愤怒的情绪，表达对某种行为的不满。
在指代‘无谓消耗’时可以互换，但‘糟蹋’含有‘弄坏’或‘不尊重’的意思，语感比‘浪费’更重。
在现代汉语规范字典中，‘蹋’原读 tà，但在词组‘糟蹋’中通常习惯读作轻声 ta。
Test Yourself
这么好的木头被用来烧火，真是___了。
‘糟蹋’最能体现出‘好材料被错误使用而失去价值’的痛惜感。
选择不恰当的一项：
看书通常是有益的，不能用‘糟蹋’；如果是浪费时间，通常说‘虚度’或‘浪费’。
粮食 / 农民 / 辛苦 / 种的 / 别 / 糟蹋
正确的语序是‘别 + 动词 + 定语 + 宾语’。
Score: /3
Summary
To waste, ruin, or insult something or someone by not showing proper respect or care.
- To waste or ruin something valuable.
- To spoil food or resources through neglect.
- To mistreat, insult, or fail to appreciate someone.
Focus on the loss of value
Use 'zāotà' when something good is being ruined or treated as if it has no value.
Contextual sensitivity with people
When applied to people, it can mean severe mistreatment or sexual assault, so use it carefully in social contexts.
Traditional Chinese thriftiness
This word is frequently used by older generations to emphasize the virtue of saving and the sin of wasting food.
Examples
4 of 4别糟蹋粮食，碗里的饭要吃干净。
Don't waste food; finish all the rice in your bowl.
这种不负责任的改编简直是在糟蹋经典名著。
This irresponsible adaptation is simply ruining a classic masterpiece.
你这么晚才回来，真是糟蹋了我辛苦做的一桌菜。
You came back so late; you've really wasted the table of food I worked so hard to cook.
资源的过度开采是对自然环境的严重糟蹋。
Over-exploitation of resources is a severe desecration of the natural environment.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
Related Vocabulary
More food words
一斤
B1Half a kilogram; a Chinese unit of weight (approx. 500g).
一两
B1Fifty grams; a Chinese unit of weight (approx. 50g).
AA制
A2To split the bill; go Dutch.
一袋
B1A bag of.
一口
B1A mouthful; a bite; a small amount (of food or drink).
少一点儿
A2A bit less.
多一点儿
A2A bit more.
一瓶
B1A bottle of.
一碗
B1Measure word for a bowl of food.
一盒
B1A box of.
