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混杂
hùn zá
mix together
市场上混杂着各种伪劣产品。
The market is mixed with all kinds of counterfeit goods.
neutral
to mix different things together in a disorderly way
这条河里混杂着工业废水和生活污水。
The river is contaminated with a mix of industrial wastewater and domestic sewage.
他的演讲混杂着中文和英文。
His speech mixes Chinese and English together.
Often implies an undesirable or chaotic mixture rather than a deliberate blend.
neutral
to be mixed up with something undesirable or suspicious
这家公司的资金来源混杂不清。
The company's sources of funding are murky.
Conveys a sense of hidden complexity or corruption in the mixture.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Distinguishing 混杂 from 混合
Use 混杂 when the mixture is disorderly or undesirable (e.g., '混杂着垃圾的食物' - food mixed with garbage). Use 混合 when the mixture is deliberate and harmonious (e.g., '混合果汁' - mixed fruit juice).
Gold Rule
Negative Connotation
混杂 almost always implies something is wrong with the mixture. If you're describing a neutral or positive blend, consider using 混合 (mix) or 融合 (blend harmoniously).
Word Origin
From Old Chinese 混 (hùn, 'to mix') + 杂 (zá, 'miscellaneous'), first attested in classical texts describing disorderly mixtures.
Usage Notes
The term often carries a negative connotation, implying an undesirable or chaotic mixture rather than a harmonious blend. In formal writing, it may suggest contamination or corruption.
Word Breakdown
混
to mix, confuse
root杂
miscellaneous, mixed
root汉英词典