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凭证 (píng zhèng) — a document that serves as proof, certificate, receipt, or voucher

Definition

凭证 is a written document that proves a transaction, payment, or right — broader than 证书 (a certificate of qualification) and more transactional than 证件 (personal ID).

noun
a document that serves as proofcertificatereceiptor voucher
Measure word · 张

Examples

  • 凭证。
    Qǐng chū shì nín de píng zhèng.
    Please present your certificate.
  • 凭证。
    Zhè zhāng píng zhèng kě yǐ duì huàn yì zhāng miǎn fèi jī piào.
    This voucher can be exchanged for a free plane ticket.
  • 凭证，。
    Méi yǒu píng zhèng, wú fǎ tí qǔ huò wù.
    Without a receipt, you cannot pick up the goods.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

凭píngproof
证zhèngcertificate

凭 and 证 both denote evidence, giving a document that proves something.

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 憑; 凭 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
馮
馮féng憑píng
Same sound today

In the traditional form 憑, 心 relates to the heart or mind, and 馮 gives the sound. The simplified 凭 is a later abbreviation, so its visible parts are not the historical parts.

Open 凭 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Business & CommerceFinance & Banking

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