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证明 (zhèng míng) — (verb) to prove, to demonstrate; (noun) proof, evidence; also a certificate or identification document

Definition

Both a verb ('to prove, demonstrate') and a noun ('proof; certificate, ID document'). As a noun it covers both abstract evidence and a physical document — narrower than 说明 ('explanation'); for pure evidence in a legal context, see 证据.

verb
to proveto demonstrate
noun
proofevidencealso a certificate or identification document
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 证明。
    Tā zhèng míng le zì jǐ shì duì de.
    He proved himself right.
  • 证明。
    Wǒ men hái xū yào gèng duō de zhèng míng.
    We still need more proof.
  • 证明。
    Qǐng bǎ nǐ de zhèng míng gěi wǒ kàn kàn.
    Please show me your ID / certificate.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

证zhèngprove
明míngclear

证 (prove) and 明 (clear) combine to mean prove or a proof.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
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.

Open 证 →

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

明 combines 日 (sun) and 月 (moon), showing the sun just rising while the moon has not yet set, or two bright objects in the sky, to express brightness.

Open 明 →
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