渣子

• Pinyin: zhā zi
• Hanzi breakdown: 渣 = 氵 + 查 (dregs/residue); 子 = 子 (noun suffix)

Meaning

Dregs; residue; slag; scraps. The leftover material after extraction or processing.

Refers to physical residue like coffee grounds (咖啡渣子), bean dregs (豆渣), or industrial slag. Colloquially used pejoratively for worthless people: 人渣 (scum), 渣男 (trashy man). 渣子 is the noun form with 子 suffix.

Examples

1. 榨完果汁后剩下的渣子可以用来做肥料。 The pulp left over after juicing can be used as fertilizer.
2. 这些煤渣子要妥善处理，不能随意倾倒污染环境。 This coal slag needs to be handled properly; it can’t be dumped casually and pollute the environment.
3. 过滤后把渣子倒掉，只保留清澈的汤汁。 After filtering, pour out the residue and keep only the clear broth.

Usage Guide

Context: cooking, processing, waste

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 豆腐作坊每天产生大量豆渣子，被养殖户收购用作饲料。(The tofu workshop produces a large amount of bean dregs daily, which are purchased by farmers for animal feed.)
• 把中药渣子倒掉，药汤已经煎好了。(Throw away the herb dregs — the medicinal decoction is ready.)

Don't Say

• 渣子人 — for calling someone worthless, use 人渣 or 渣男/渣女, not 渣子人

Origin & History

渣 (dregs/residue) + 子 (noun suffix)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal