Learn Chinese Characters

Meaning

slaughter; butcher; govern; rule; official

Hear the Four Tones

The same syllable “zai” becomes a different word in each tone. 宰 is the 3rd tone. Tap any tone to hear a native voice and see its pitch shape.

Stroke Order

Tap Animate to watch the strokes in order, or Practice to trace it yourself.

Common Words

  • 主宰zhǔ zǎito dominate; to rule; to dictate; master
  • 任人宰割rèn rén zǎi gēto get trampled on (idiom); to be taken advantage of
  • 宰了zǎi le(coll.) (typically used hyperbolically) to kill (sb)
  • 宰人zǎi rénto overcharge; to rip sb off
  • 宰相zǎi xiàngprime minister (in feudal China)

Example Sentence

古代有一种官职叫宰相。Gǔ dài yǒu yì zhǒng guān zhí jiào zǎi xiàng.In ancient times, there was an official position called prime minister.

古代Gǔ dàiancient timesyǒuto have一种yì zhǒngone kind of官职guān zhían official positionjiàoto shout宰相zǎi xiàngprime minister (in feudal