旁证 (páng zhèng) — circumstantial evidence

Definition

A legal/formal term: evidence that supports a case indirectly (circumstantial), as opposed to direct evidence (直接证据) that proves something outright.

noun

circumstantial evidence

，旁证。
Fǎ tíng shàng, lǜ shī tí chū le hěn duō páng zhèng lái zhī chí tā de lùn diǎn.
In court, the lawyer presented a lot of circumstantial evidence to support his argument.
旁证，，。
Zhǐ yǒu páng zhèng, méi yǒu zhí jiē zhèng jù, hěn nán zhèng míng tā yǒu zuì.
With only circumstantial evidence and no direct evidence, it's hard to prove he is guilty.
旁证。
Zhè ge àn jiàn de páng zhèng bù zú yǐ dìng zuì.
The circumstantial evidence in this case is insufficient to convict.

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.

旁pángside/other

"旁" (side/other) specifies "证" (evidence) as collateral rather than direct evidence.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

方

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 旁, 方 is the lower part and gives the sound. The upper part is unclear and may have been part of the meaning.

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.

言登證

Meaning part形符xíngfú

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.

Appears in