滓

A phono-semantic compound consisting of:

水 (water) — semantic component, indicates relation to liquids;

宰 — phonetic component supplying the sound (재 / zǐ).

The character originally described solid particles settling out of a liquid.

Semantic development:

- sediment in liquid;

- residue after filtering;

- waste matter;

- figuratively: undesirable remnants.

The meaning consistently centers on material left behind after separation.

In Korean, 滓 often appears in words describing residues or leftovers.

잔재 (殘滓) — remnants; leftover traces

재물 (滓物) — sediment or waste matter (rare)

滓 emphasizes settled residue in liquids. Commonly used in food and fermentation contexts (e.g., wine or sake sediment).

Also appears metaphorically in literature to describe moral or social “impurities.”

Related characters:

渣 — dregs; sediment

泥 — mud

垢 — dirt; impurity

濁 — turbidity