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贞 (zhēn) — (bound form) loyal; faithful; constant; (bound form) chastity; virtue (especially of women)

Definition

Literary/formal bound form meaning 'loyal and steadfast' or 'chaste, virtuous' — used almost only in classical-style words like 忠贞, 贞洁, 贞操. It is not used alone in modern speech.

bound form
loyalfaithfulconstantchastityvirtue (especially of women)

Examples

  • 。
    Tā shì yí wèi zhōng zhēn de zhàn shì.
    He is a loyal and faithful soldier.
  • 。
    Gǔ dài shè huì fēi cháng zhòng shì nǚ xìng de zhēn jié.
    Ancient society placed great importance on female chastity.
  • 。
    Zhè ge gù shi zàn yáng le tā de zhēn cāo.
    This story praises her chastity.

Origin

Pictograph
六书liùshū
象形xiàngxíng

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 貞; 贞 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 貞 grew from a picture of a ding tripod, later changed for divination, and its lower part became unrelated to that picture; the simplified 贞 is a shorthand.

Appears in
Personality & Traits

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