zhēng
verb HSK 7-9 #7,847

Meanings

  1. 1 to go on a journey/campaign
  2. 2 to levy; to collect
  3. 3 sign; evidence

Examples

Gōngsī zhèngzài zhēngjí yìjiàn.
The company is soliciting opinions.
Zhè shì yīgè hǎode xiàngzhēng.
This is a good symbol.
Fāshāo shì gǎnmào de tèzhēng.
Fever is a symptom of a cold.

Tips

usage
is in 征求 (zhēngqiú, to solicit), 象征 (xiàngzhēng, symbol), 特征 (tèzhēng, characteristic), 长征 (chángzhēng, Long March), 远征 (yuǎnzhēng, expedition).

Components

radical
chì
step (radical form)
Left step radical — the side-form of (walk), showing a small footstep. The indexing radical, files in the family of motion / path characters: go toward, wait, tiny step, slow, virtue (a path walked). Marks as movement along a road — specifically a military march or distant journey.
phonetic
zhèng
upright; correct
Right supplies both sound and meaning — zhèng shifting to zhēng with tone change, and the moral weight of 'rightful / just' fits the original meaning of a righteous military expedition. Originally itself depicted a foot moving toward a city — a campaign. Same phonetic family: government, illness, whole, dazed.

Stroke Order

zhēng