zuìjìn 最近 N recently, recent time ■ 我最近特别 忙。Wǒ zuìjìn tèbié máng. I’m particularly busy
these days. ■ 你最近看过什么好电影吗？Nǐ zuìjìn kànguo shénme hǎo diànyǐng ma? Have you
seen any good movies lately?
zuì 醉 V get drunk, be intoxicated ■ 我没醉，我还 能喝。Wǒ méi zuì, wǒ hái néng hē. I’m not drunk. I
can drink more. ■ 他昨天晚上喝醉了，今天头 疼。Tā zuótiān wǎnshang hē zuì le, jīntiān
tóuténg. He was drunk last night and this morning he has a headache.
zuì 罪 N crime, offense ■ 被告不承认自己有 罪。Bèigào bùchéngrèn zìjǐ yǒuzuì. The defendant did
not admit to any offense. (→ The defendant pleaded not guilty.)
zuìfàn 罪犯 N criminal, offender, culprit ■ 警察在 案发第二天就抓到了罪犯。 Jǐngchá zài'àn fā dì èr
tiān jiù zhuā dào le zuìfàn. The police caught the criminal the day after the crime.
zūn 尊 V respect
zūnjìng 尊敬 [comp: 尊 respect + 敬 respect] V respect, honor ■ 中国的传统是尊敬老人。 Zhōngguó
de chuántǒng shì zūnjìng lǎorén. A tradition of the Chinese is to respect the aged.
zūnyán 尊严 N dignity, honor
zūnzhòng 尊重 V respect, esteem, value
zūn 遵 V obey
zūnshǒu 遵守 [comp: 遵 obey + 守 abide by] V observe, abide by ■ 你既然在这个学校学习， 就要遵
守学校的各项规定。Nǐ jìrán zài zhège xuéxiào xuéxí, jiù yào zūnshǒu xuéxiào de gè xiàng
guīdìng. Since you are studying in this school, you should observe its regulations.
zūnxún 遵循 V follow faithfully, adhere to
zuó 昨 N yesterday
zuótiān 昨天 [modif: 昨 past + 天 day] N yesterday ■ 你昨天晚上去哪里了？Nǐ zuótiān wǎnshang qù
nǎli le? Where were you yesterday evening?
zuó 琢 as in 琢磨 zuómo
zuómo 琢磨 V turn over in one’s mind, think over, ponder
NOTE: zuómo 琢磨 is different from 琢磨 zhuómó in pronunciation and meaning.zuǒ 左 N the left side ■ 我弟弟用左手吃饭、写 字。Wǒ dìdi yòng zuǒshǒu chīfàn, xiězì. My younger
brother eats and writes with the left hand.
zuǒbian 左边 [modif: 左 left + 边 side] N the left side, the left-hand side ■ 坐在李先生左边的那位 小
姐是谁？Zuò zai Lǐ xiānsheng zǔobian de nà wèi xiǎojiě shì shuí? Who is the young lady sitting
on the left of Mr Li?
zuǒyòu 左右 [comp: 左 left + 右 right] ADV approximately, nearly, about ■ 今天最高温度二十 度左
右。Jīntiān zuìgāo wēndù èrshí dù zuǒyòu. Today’s maximum temperature is about twenty degrees.
zuò 坐 V sit ■ 请坐！Qǐng zuò! Sit down, please! ■ 她正坐在窗边看书。Tǎ zhèng zuò zài
chuāngbiān kànshū. She’s sitting by the window, reading.
zuò 作 V same as 做 zuò
NOTE: 做 zuò and 作 zuò have the same pronunciation and often the same meaning, but 做 zuò is much more
commonly used while 作 zuò occurs only in certain set expressions.zuòbì 作弊 V practice fraud, cheat 考试作弊 kǎoshì zuòbì cheat in an examination
zuòfèi 作废 V become invalid
zuòfēng 作风 N way of behavior, way of working, style 独断独行的领导作风 dúduàndúxíng de lǐngdǎo zuòfēng
autocratic style of leadership
zuòjiā 作家 [modif: 作 create + 家 expert] N writer (especially of literary works, e.g. novels, stories) ■
在过去，作家是很受人尊敬的。 Zài guòqù, zuòjiā shì hěn shòu rén zūnjìng de. In the past
writers were very much respected.
zuòpǐn 作品 [modif: 作 create + 品 article] N literary or artistic work ■ 这位作家又有新作品 了。Zhè