证明信 (zhèng míng xìn) — certificate (a formal written document that serves as proof or evidence)

Definition

noun
certificate (a formal written document that serves as proof or evidence)
Measure word · 封

Examples

  • 证明信。
    Qǐng bǎ nǐ de zhèng míng xìn jiāo dào bàn gōng shì.
    Please submit your certificate to the office.
  • 。
    Tā shōu dào le yì fēng gōng zuò zhèng míng xìn.
    He received a work certificate.
  • 证明信。
    Zhè fèn zhèng míng xìn xū yào xiào zhǎng qiān zì.
    This certificate needs the principal's signature.

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.

证明proof
证zhèngprove明míngmake clear
补充Verb + complement
信xìnletter

证明 establishes proof, and 信 is the letter or document carrying it.

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.

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 →

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

明 combines 日 (sun) and 月 (moon), showing the sun just rising while the moon has not yet set, or two bright objects in the sky, to express brightness.

Open 明 →

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
言言yánwords
Sound part声符shēngfú
人
人rén信xìn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

信 pairs 人 as the sound part with 言 (words) as the meaning part.

Open 信 →

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