证据 (zhèng jù) — evidence; proof | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

证据 is the noun 'evidence' as in a court or argument — facts and items presented to prove something. 证明 as a noun refers to a document or certificate; as a verb it means 'to prove'.

noun

evidenceproof

Measure word · 个

Examples

证据。
Lǜ shī zhǎo dào le xīn de zhèng jù.
The lawyer found new evidence.
证据。
Zhè xiē zhèng jù bù zú yǐ zhèng míng tā fàn zuì le.
This evidence is not enough to prove that he committed a crime.
证据。
Fǎ guān yāo qiú chū shì zhèng jù.
The judge demanded that the evidence be presented.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

证 (proof) and 据 (basis) combine to mean 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.

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.

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

手手shǒuhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

居

居jū据jù

Same sound today

据 uses 手 (hand) as one part and 居 to give the sound.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 5 HSK 2.0 Level 5 1000 Most Frequent Chinese Words Law & Justice 2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words 3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

Browse more HSK 5 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.