真假 (zhēn jiǎ) — truth and falsehood; authenticity

Definition

noun

truth and falsehoodauthenticity

真假，。
zhēn jiǎ Hěn zhòng yào, wǒ men bì xū xué huì qū fēn.
Truth and falsehood are very important; we must learn to distinguish them.
真假。
Wǒ men yào xué huì biàn bié zhēn jiǎ.
We need to learn to discern authenticity from falsehood.
，。
Tā fēn bù qīng zhēn jiǎ, cháng cháng bèi piàn.
He can't tell truth from falsehood, and is often deceived.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

真 and 假 stand side by side to mean truth and falsehood, hence authenticity.

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

貝貝bèicowrie; shell

Sound part声符shēngfú

𠂈

𠂈𠂈真zhēn

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

真 pairs 貝 (cowrie shell, used for the meaning) with 𠂈, which gave the sound and originally drew a headlong fall.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

亻叚假

Meaning part形符xíngfú

亻Written in full as人rénperson

Sound part声符shēngfú

叚

叚jiǎ假jiǎ

Same sound today

假 pairs 亻 (person) with 叚, which gives the sound jiǎ.

Appears in