證 meaning and stroke order
To prove, to verify; certificate, proof
How to write 證, stroke by stroke
19 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 證
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- certificate
- proof
- to prove
- to demonstrate
- to confirm
- variant of 症[zheng4]
How 證 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Speech.
言 gives the meaning and 登 hints at the sound.
Radical: 言 (words), shared by 155 characters on this site.
How to remember 證
證 combines 言 (speech) with 登 (dēng, to climb up). Picture someone stepping up onto a platform to give spoken testimony, offering words as proof.
證 is the traditional form, used in Taiwan and Hong Kong, and it rarely stands alone. It appears in words like 證明 (zhèngmíng, proof), 證據 (zhèngjù, evidence), and documents such as 身份證 (shēnfènzhèng, ID card) and 簽證 (qiānzhèng, visa). Example: 請出示你的身份證。 (Qǐng chūshì nǐ de shēnfènzhèng.) Please show your ID card.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 證 with 澄 (chéng, clear) or 燈 (dēng, lamp), since all three contain 登. Only 證 has the speech radical 言 on the left. Also note that the simplified form 证 uses 正 instead of 登, so the two forms look quite different.
Common words with 證
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 保證 | bǎozhèng | guarantee; to guarantee | HSK 3 |
| 證明 | zhèngmíng | proof; certificate | HSK 3 |
| 證據 | zhèngjù | evidence; proof | HSK 3 |
| 身份證 | shēnfènzhèng | identity card; ID | HSK 3 |
| 證件 | zhèngjiàn | certificate; papers; credentials; document; ID | HSK 3 |
| 證實 | zhèngshí | to confirm (sth to be true); to verify | HSK 5 |
| 簽證 | qiānzhèng | visa; to issue a visa | HSK 5 |
| 證書 | zhèngshū | credentials; certificate | HSK 5 |
| 證人 | zhèngrén | witness | HSK 7-9 |
| 見證 | jiànzhèng | to be witness to; witness | HSK 7-9 |
| 通行證 | tōngxíngzhèng | a pass (authority to enter); a laissez-passer or safe conduct | HSK 7-9 |
| 許可證 | xǔkězhèng | license; authorization | HSK 7-9 |
| 驗證 | yànzhèng | to inspect and verify; experimental verification | HSK 7-9 |
| 認證 | rènzhèng | to authenticate; to approve | HSK 7-9 |
Questions about 證
How many strokes are in 證?
證 is written with 19 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 證 mean?
證 (zhèng) means to prove, to verify; certificate, proof. A common word with it is 保证 (bǎozhèng), meaning "guarantee; to guarantee".
How do you pronounce 證?
證 is pronounced zhèng, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 證?
The radical of 證 is 言, which carries the idea of "words". Dictionaries list 證 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 證?
證 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 证, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 證明 and 證實?
證明 (zhèngmíng) means to prove something or a document that proves it, like a certificate. 證實 (zhèngshí) means to confirm that a report or suspicion is true, for example 消息已經證實了 (the news has been confirmed).
Why does the dictionary say 證 is a variant of 症?
In older texts 證 was sometimes written for 症 (zhèng), meaning a disease or symptom, and you may still see it in traditional Chinese medicine terms. In modern everyday writing, use 症 for illness, as in 症狀 (zhèngzhuàng, symptom).