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珍

zhēn
adjective #5,827

Meanings

  1. 1 precious; rare; valuable
  2. 2 to treasure; to cherish

Examples

HSK 5
请珍惜时间。
Qǐng zhēnxī shíjiān.
Please cherish your time.
HSK 6
博物馆里有很多珍贵的文物。
Bówùguǎn lǐ yǒu hěnduō zhēnguì de wénwù.
The museum has many precious artifacts.
HSK 6
珍珠奶茶很好喝。
Zhēnzhū nǎichá hěn hǎo hē.
Bubble tea is delicious.

Tips

usage
珍惜 = to cherish, 珍贵 = precious, 珍珠 = pearl.

Components

radical
王 yù
jade (radical form)
Jade radical on the left - the four-stroke 王 here is the contracted form of 玉 (jade). Anchors 珍 in the family of precious-stone characters alongside 玉 (jade), 珠 (pearl), 璧 (jade disc), 璇 (fine jade). Tells the reader instantly: this concerns rare, treasured stones.
semantic
人 rén
person (graphic top of phonetic)
Top of the right component - the 人-shape sits over three slanted strokes. Together with the strokes below it forms the phonetic block carrying the zhěn → zhēn reading. On its own here it is graphic decoration; the sound work is done jointly with the 彡 below.
phonetic
彡 shān
decorative strokes; bristles
Three slanted strokes at the lower right - combined with the 人 above they form the phonetic block. Same shape powers the zhěn/zhēn family: 诊 (diagnose), 疹 (rash), 趁 (take advantage). Visually, 彡 also evokes the lustrous polish-marks on a finished gem.

Stroke Order

珍 zhēn