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Resources
Expressing wasting or ruining with 糟蹋 (zāotà)
Actions & Events
Description & Modification
Structure
糟蹋 + Object
Explanation
The verb 糟蹋 (zāotà) means "to waste," "to ruin," or "to spoil." It can refer to wasting resources, damaging property, or harming something of value. It carries a negative connotation and implies that something is being treated poorly or destructively.
Examples
好好的粮食别糟蹋了，吃多少拿多少。
Hǎohǎo de liángshi bié zāotà le, chī duōshao ná duōshao.
Don't waste perfectly good food — only take as much as you can eat.
他把父母给他的钱全糟蹋了。
Tā bǎ fùmǔ gěi tā de qián quán zāotà le.
He squandered all the money his parents gave him.
这么好的机会你不珍惜，太糟蹋了。
Zhème hǎo de jīhuì nǐ bù zhēnxī, tài zāotà le.
You don't cherish such a good opportunity — what a waste.