证 (zhèng) · proof; evidence; certificate

Meanings

1 proof; evidence; certificate
2 to prove; to verify

Characters

证

zhèng

proof; certificate; to verify

Contains the speech radical 讠, since proving something involves verbal testimony or documentation.

Examples

HSK 1

你有什么证？

Nǐ yǒu shénme zhèng?

What ID/certificate do you have?

HSK 3

办这个证需要带两张照片。

Bàn zhège zhèng xūyào dài liǎng zhāng zhàopiàn.

Applying for this certificate requires two photos.

HSK 6

请出示你的证。

Qǐng chūshì nǐ de zhèng.

Please show your credentials.

Tips

usage

证 is often used as a suffix: 身份证 (ID card), 学生证 (student ID), 驾驶证 (driver's license), 工作证 (work permit).

Components

radical

讠 yán

speech; words (radical form)

Speech radical, simplified left-side form of 言. To prove or testify is to put something in words, so 证 sits in the speech-act family with 说 say, 论 discuss, 议 deliberate, 谋 plan, 课 lesson.

phonetic

正 zhèng

upright; correct

Phonetic - 正 zhèng directly supplies the sound for 证 zhèng. 正 also contributes a strong semantic resonance: testimony must be 'upright / correct'. Together: 'words that are upright' = proof, evidence, certificate. The traditional form 證 used 登 instead, but the simplified borrows 正's neat sound match.