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真正 (zhēn zhèng) — (adjective) genuine, real; (adverb) really, indeed

Definition

真正 emphasizes the truest, most authentic form of something — stronger than 真 ('real/true'). 真实 is closer to 真的/现实, while 真诚 is about sincerity in character.

adjective
genuinereal
adverb
reallyindeed

Examples

  • 真正。
    Zhè shì yí gè zhēn zhèng de jī huì.
    This is a genuine opportunity.
  • 真正。
    Tā zhēn zhèng zuò dào le zuì hǎo.
    He really did his very best.
  • 真正。
    Wǒ zhēn zhèng xǐ huan zhè ge diàn yǐng.
    I really like this movie.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

真zhēntrue
正zhènggenuine

真正 combines 真 as true and 正 as genuine to mean real, genuine, or indeed.

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 →

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
止止zhǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng正zhèng
Same sound today

正 pairs 止 with 丁; 止 marks the sense and 丁 gives the sound.

Open 正 →
Appears in
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