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真品 (zhēn pǐn) — genuine article, authentic work (as opposed to a fake or replica)

Definition

An authentic, genuine item (artwork, antique, etc.), as opposed to a fake 赝品 or reproduction 仿制品. Pairs with 件, usually in the context of collecting or authentication.

noun
genuine articleauthentic work (as opposed to a fake or replica)
Measure word · 件

Examples

  • 真品，。
    Zhè fú huà shì zhēn pǐn, bú shì fǎng zhì pǐn.
    This painting is an authentic work, not a reproduction.
  • 真品。
    Shōu cáng jiā zhī gòu mǎi yǒu zhèng shū de zhēn pǐn.
    Collectors only buy genuine articles with certificates.
  • 真品，。
    Shì chǎng shàng zhēn pǐn hěn shǎo, dà bù fen shì yàn pǐn.
    Genuine articles are rare on the market; most are fakes.

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.

真zhēngenuine
品pǐnarticle

真 genuine and 品 article combine to mean an authentic item.

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.

Open 真 →

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

品 repeats the same simple shape three times, representing various objects.

Open 品 →
Appears in
Good & Bad

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