Definition
挣 (zhèng) has two meanings: (1) to earn money through work (like 挣钱), broader than 赚 (zhuàn, HSK4) which focuses on making a profit; (2) to struggle physically to break free (e.g., a bird escaping). For the struggle sense, 挣扎 (zhēng zhá, HSK7) implies a more desperate, emotional struggle, while 挣 is a forceful physical action.
verb
to earn (money)to struggle to get freeto break free (by force)
Easily confused
- 睁zhēnglook-aliketo open (one's eyes)
- 正zhèngsound-alike(adverb) exactly, just (at that time or place)
- 净jìnglook-alike(adjective) clean
- 整zhěngsound-alikewhole, entire, complete
- 静jìnglook-alikestill, calm, quiet; not moving
- 证zhèngsound-alikecertificate, ID card
- 争zhēngsound-aliketo contend / to strive for / to vie for
- 征zhēngsound-aliketo recruit (personnel)
- 蒸zhēngsound-aliketo steam (food)
Examples
- 挣。Tā měi gè yuè néng zhèng bù shǎo qián.He can earn quite a bit of money every month.
- 挣，。Xiǎo niǎo yòng lì yí zhèng, cóng lóngzi lǐ fēi zǒu le.The little bird struggled once and flew out of the cage.
- 挣。Tā kào jiānzhí zhèng gòu le xuéfèi.She earned enough tuition by working part-time.
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