掙 meaning and stroke order
To struggle, to strive, to endeavor
How to write 掙, stroke by stroke
11 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 掙
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to struggle to get free
- to strive to acquire
- to make (money)
- used in 掙扎|挣扎[zheng1 zha2]
How 掙 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. To fight 爭 by hand 扌; 爭 also provides the pronunciation.
Radical: 扌 (hand), shared by 342 characters on this site.
How to remember 掙
The hand radical 扌 sits next to 爭 (zhēng), which means to fight or contend. Picture fighting with your hands to break free or to grab what you need, and you have 掙.
掙 has two readings. Read zhèng, it means to earn money or to break free, as in 挣钱 (zhèngqián) and 挣脱 (zhèngtuō). Read zhēng, it appears in 挣扎 (zhēngzhá), to struggle. Example: 他每个月挣很多钱。(Tā měi gè yuè zhèng hěn duō qián.) He earns a lot of money every month.
Common mistake: Learners often use one tone for every word. 挣钱 is fourth tone zhèng, but 挣扎 is first tone zhēng. Also do not confuse 掙 with 爭 (zhēng, to compete) or 睜 (zhēng, to open the eyes). The hand radical marks physical effort.
Common words with 掙
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
Questions about 掙
How many strokes are in 掙?
掙 is written with 11 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 掙 mean?
掙 (zhēng) means to struggle, to strive, to endeavor. A common word with it is 挣钱 (zhèngqián), meaning "to make money".
How do you pronounce 掙?
掙 is pronounced zhēng, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 掙?
The radical of 掙 is 扌, which carries the idea of "hand". Dictionaries list 掙 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 掙?
掙 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 挣, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 挣钱 and 赚钱?
Both mean to make money. 挣钱 (zhèngqián) suggests earning through work and effort, like a salary. 赚钱 (zhuànqián) often suggests profit, such as from business or investing.
Why do I see 挣 instead of 掙?
挣 is the simplified form used in mainland China, where 爭 is written 争. 掙 is the traditional form used in Taiwan and Hong Kong. They are the same word with the same readings.