质证 (zhì zhèng) — (legal) to cross-examine; to confront and question (evidence or witnesses in court)

Definition

A legal term for 'cross-examining' evidence or witnesses in court — done by lawyers during trial to challenge the other side's proof. Confined to courtroom procedure, not general questioning.

verb
(legal) to cross-examineto confront and question (evidence or witnesses in court)

Examples

  • 质证。
    Lǜ shī zài fǎ tíng shàng duì zhèng rén jìn xíng zhì zhèng.
    The lawyer cross-examined the witness in court.
  • 。
    Wǒ fāng lǜ shī yǐ jīng zhì guò zhèng le.
    Our side's lawyer has already cross-examined.
  • 。
    Tā zhì le yí gè xiǎo shí de zhèng.
    He cross-examined for an hour.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

质zhìconfront
证zhèngevidence

质, meaning confront or interrogate, and 证, meaning evidence or proof, together denote cross-examining evidence in court.

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 質; 质 is its simplified writing.

  • 斦斦yín
  • 貝貝bèi

The traditional form 質 is made up of 貝 and 斦; this describes 質, not the simplified 质.

Open 质 →

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 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.