实证 (shí zhèng) — concrete evidence, empirical evidence; (TCM) excess syndrome (a pattern of repletion)

Definition

Two distinct senses: in the sciences, 'empirical evidence' (实证研究 = empirical research); in traditional Chinese medicine, 实证 refers to an 'excess syndrome' — a pattern of pathogenic excess requiring purgation.

noun
concrete evidenceempirical evidence(TCM) excess syndrome (a pattern of repletion)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 实证。
    Zhè xiàng yán jiū xū yào gèng duō de shí zhèng lái zhī chí.
    This research needs more empirical evidence to support it.
  • 实证，。
    Zhōng yī zhěn duàn tā shǔ yú shí zhèng, xū yào qīng rè.
    The TCM diagnosis classified him as having excess syndrome, requiring heat-clearing.
  • 实证。
    Fǎ lǜ shàng de shí zhèng bì xū zhēn shí kě kào.
    Concrete evidence in law must be authentic and reliable.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

实shíconcrete
证zhèngevidence

实 gives the sense of concrete or actual, and 证 gives evidence, so together they mean concrete evidence.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 實; 实 is its simplified writing.

  • 宀宀miánroof
  • 周周zhōucarved jade
  • 貝貝bèishellfish; cowrie

The traditional form 實 has 宀 'roof' above 周 'carved jade' and 貝 'cowrie'; the simplified 实 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical pieces.

Open 实 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 證; 证 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
登
登dēng證zhèng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 證 pairs 言, a words/speech part, with 登 as a sound clue; the simplified 证 is a later shorthand.

Open 证 →

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