郑重其事 (zhèng zhòng qí shì) — seriously, earnestly, with solemnity

Definition

A formal idiom meaning 'with great seriousness and solemnity,' stronger than plain 认真. Used for important, weighty actions like announcements or promises — not casual tasks.

idiom
seriouslyearnestlywith solemnity

Examples

  • 郑重其事，。
    Tā zhèng zhòng qí shì dì duì wǒ shuō, zhè jiàn shì hěn zhòng yào.
    He told me seriously that this matter is very important.
  • 郑重其事。
    Nǐ yīng gāi zhèng zhòng qí shì dì duì dài zhè cì kǎo shì.
    You should treat this exam earnestly.
  • 郑重其事。
    Lǎo bǎn zhèng zhòng qí shì dì xuān bù le gōng sī de xīn guī dìng.
    The boss solemnly announced the company's new rules.

Origin

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 鄭; 郑 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
邑邑yì
Sound part声符shēngfú
奠
奠diàn鄭Zhèng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 鄭 uses 奠 to give the sound and 邑, a settlement, for the state name; the simplified 郑 is a later abbreviation.

Open 郑 →

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
人人rénman
Sound part声符shēngfú
東
東dōng重zhòng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

重 developed from a picture of a man carrying a bag, with 人 for the man and 東 for the bag; a later ground element was folded into the form.

Open 重 →

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

The modern form 其 comes from an early drawing of a basket, with a stand added underneath.

Open 其 →

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

In 事, 又 is a hand and 中 is a flagpole with a drum; holding a flag in hand depicts performing a job.

Open 事 →

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