铁证 (tiě zhèng) — ironclad proof; irrefutable evidence

Definition

noun

ironclad proofirrefutable evidence

Measure word · 个

铁证，。
Jǐng fāng zhǎo dào le tiě zhèng, xiōng shǒu zhōng yú chéng rèn le zuì xíng.
The police found irrefutable evidence, and the murderer finally confessed to the crime.
铁证，。
Zhè fèn hé tong jiù shì tiě zhèng, zhèng míng tā què shí jiè le qián.
This contract is ironclad proof that he did borrow money.
铁证，。
Méi yǒu tiě zhèng, fǎ yuàn bù néng pàn tā yǒu zuì.
Without irrefutable evidence, the court cannot convict him.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

The sense of '铁' (iron) combines with '证' (proof) to mean firm, irrefutable 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 鐵; 铁 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

金金jīnmetal

Sound part声符shēngfú

𢧤

𢧤𢧤鐵tiě

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 鐵 pairs 金 (metal) with 𢧤 as a sound part; the simplified 铁 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.

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.

Appears in