字据 (zì jù) — written pledge; written proof of a debt or agreement

Definition

A physical paper that proves a debt or agreement (IOU, contract note). Unlike a casual promise, 字据 is the signed, written evidence a court or third party can verify.

noun
written pledgewritten proof of a debt or agreement
Measure word · 张
Easily confused

Examples

  • ，字据。
    Tā jiè le wǒ wǔ wàn kuài, xiě le yì zhāng zì jù.
    He borrowed 50,000 yuan from me and wrote an IOU.
  • 字据，。
    Zhè shì wǒ men de zì jù, shàng miàn yǒu shuāng fāng de qiān míng.
    This is our written agreement, with both parties' signatures on it.
  • 字据，。
    Nǐ bǎ zì jù bǎo guǎn hǎo, bié nòng diū le.
    Keep the written proof safe and don't lose it.

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.

字zìwriting
据jùevidence

字 means writing, and 据 means evidence, together meaning written proof or pledge.

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
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
子
子zǐ字zì
Same sound today

字 pairs 宀 (roof) with 子 (child); 子 gives the sound, while 宀 relates to the meaning.

Open 字 →

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
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
居
居jū据jù
Same sound today

据 uses 手 (hand) as one part and 居 to give the sound.

Open 据 →

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