noun HSK 3
Traditional 雜誌
zhì
magazine · periodical · journal

Meaning

杂志 refers to a periodical publication containing articles, pictures, and advertisements, typically on a particular subject or aimed at a particular readership. It's the standard modern Chinese word for magazines of all types, from fashion and lifestyle magazines to academic journals.

Usage

杂志 is used in both formal and informal contexts. Native speakers commonly specify the type by adding descriptors like 时尚杂志 (fashion magazine) or 文学杂志 (literary magazine). It's a countable noun that requires measure words when quantifying.

Examples

  1. 01
    我每个月都买这本时尚杂志
    měi yuè dōu mǎi zhè běn shí shàng zhì.
    I buy this fashion magazine every month.
  2. 02
    图书馆里有很多中文杂志可以免费阅读。
    shū guǎn yǒu hěn duō Zhōng wén zhì miǎn fèi yuè .
    There are many Chinese magazines in the library that you can read for free.

Characters

Measure words

  • běn一本杂志
  • fèn两份杂志

Common collocations

  • 杂志
    kàn zhì
    to read a magazine
  • 时尚杂志
    shí shàng zhì
    fashion magazine
  • 订阅杂志
    dìng yuè zhì
    to subscribe to a magazine
  • 杂志
    zhì shè
    magazine publisher, editorial office

Origin

The word combines 杂 (miscellaneous, various) and 志 (record, chronicle), literally meaning 'miscellaneous records.' This reflects magazines' nature as collections of various articles and topics compiled together.

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