真经 (zhēn jīng) — true scripture (original Buddhist sense); real knowledge, practical know-how, the essential secret (metaphorical)

Definition

Literally 'true scripture' from the Buddhist/Journey-to-the-West sense of 取经. Figuratively, it means the real know-how or essential secret of a craft — not a literal religious text.

noun
true scripture (original Buddhist sense)real knowledgepractical know-howthe essential secret (metaphorical)
Measure word · 本

Examples

  • 真经。
    Tā huā le hěn duō nián cái xué dào zhè mén shǒu yì de zhēn jīng.
    It took him many years to learn the real know-how of this craft.
  • ，真经。
    Zhè běn shū jiǎng de bú shì kōng huà, ér shì zuò rén de zhēn jīng.
    This book doesn't talk empty words — it's the real wisdom of how to live.
  • 真经。
    Táng sēng qù xī tiān qǔ zhēn jīng de gù shi zài zhōng guó jiā yù hù xiǎo.
    The story of Tang Monk going to the Western Heaven to obtain the true scriptures is known in every household in China.

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.

真zhēntrue
经jīngscripture

真 (true) + 经 (scripture): the true scripture, hence real practical knowledge.

Characters in this word

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
貝貝bèicowrie; shell
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠂈
𠂈𠂈真zhēn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

真 pairs 貝 (cowrie shell, used for the meaning) with 𠂈, which gave the sound and originally drew a headlong fall.

Open 真 →

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 經; 经 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mìsilk; thread
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng經jīng
Same sound today

The traditional form 經 combines 糹 (silk; thread) with 巠, which gives the sound.

Open 经 →

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