zhèn
verb #8,155

Meanings

  1. 1 to shake
  2. 2 to vibrate
  3. 3 to rouse

Examples

Zhège xiāoxi lìngrén zhènfèn.
This news is exciting.
Shǒujī tiáo chéng zhèndòng móshì.
Set the phone to vibrate mode.

Tips

usage
Common in 振动 (zhèndòng, to vibrate) and 振奋 (zhènfèn, to inspire).

Components

radical
shǒu
hand (radical form of 手)
Left raise-hand radical anchors in the manual-action family — here a vigorous shaking or raising motion. belongs to the energising-verb cluster with wave, lift, raise. The hand drives the active sense across 振动 vibrate, 振奋 rouse spirits.
phonetic
chén
celestial body; time period (here phonetic)
Right supplies the sound — chén drifting to zhèn through regular onset shift. Same phonetic appears in quake (大地 earthquake), pregnant, lip. itself depicts a clam or stirring tool; in it works purely as the sound-bearer, while the hand carries the active "shaking" meaning.

Stroke Order

zhèn