(zhēng) — (music) the fourth note of the ancient Chinese pentatonic scale

Definition

徵 (zhēng) is the fourth note of the ancient five-tone scale 宫商角徵羽 (gōng shāng jué zhēng yǔ). In phonology 徵母 also names a class of initials, but this is a specialist term learners can defer.

noun
(music) the fourth note of the ancient Chinese pentatonic scale

Examples

  • Gǔ qín de wǔ yīn shì gōng, shāng, jiǎo, zhēng, yǔ.
    The five notes of the guqin are gong, shang, jue, zhi, and yu.
  • Zhè shǒu yuè qǔ zhǔ yào yòng le zhēng yīn lái biǎo xiàn bēi zhuàng de qíng gǎn.
    This piece primarily uses the zhi note to express a solemn and stirring emotion.
  • Gǔ dài yīn yùn xué zhōng, zhēng mǔ shǔ yú chǐ yīn yí lèi.
    In ancient phonology, the zhi initial belongs to the dental category.

Origin

Compound ideograph
六书liùshū
会意huìyì

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

徵 grew from an older drawing of a knife with tooth-shaped protrusions, later combined with marks for movement and striking.

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