镇 meaning and stroke order
To press down; to calm; to subdue
How to write 镇, stroke by stroke
15 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 镇
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to press down
- to calm
- to subdue
- to suppress
- to guard
- garrison
How 镇 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Metal.
钅 gives the meaning and 真 hints at the sound.
Radical: 钅 (gold), shared by 223 characters on this site.
How to remember 镇
Picture a heavy piece of metal 钅 that truly 真 (zhēn) holds things in place, like a paperweight pressing down. The metal side gives the meaning of pressing and keeping still, and 真 gives the sound zhèn.
镇 appears in words about calmness, such as 镇定 (zhèndìng) and 镇静 (zhènjìng), and in words about control like 镇压 (zhènyā). It is also very common as the word for a town, as in 城镇 (chéngzhèn) and 小镇 (xiǎozhèn). Example: 他住在一个小镇上。(Tā zhù zài yí gè xiǎozhèn shang.) He lives in a small town.
Common mistake: Learners often write the left side as 金 or confuse 镇 with 真 (zhēn) and say it in the first tone. 镇 is fourth tone, zhèn, and always has the metal radical 钅 on the left.
Common words with 镇
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 城镇 | chéngzhèn | town; cities and towns | HSK 6 |
| 镇定 | zhèndìng | calm; unperturbed | HSK 7-9 |
| 小镇 | xiǎozhèn | small town; village | |
| 镇子 | zhènzi | town; village | |
| 镇静 | zhènjìng | calm; cool | |
| 镇静剂 | zhènjìngjì | tranquilizer | |
| 镇压 | zhènyā | suppression; repression | |
| 镇长 | zhènzhǎng | town headman; mayor (of small town or village) | |
| 镇定剂 | zhèndìngjì | tranquilizer; depressant | |
| 市镇 | shìzhèn | small town | |
| 冰镇 | bīngzhèn | iced |
镇 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 镇
How many strokes are in 镇?
镇 is written with 15 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 镇 mean?
镇 (zhèn) means to press down; to calm; to subdue. A common word with it is 城镇 (chéngzhèn), meaning "town; cities and towns".
How do you pronounce 镇?
镇 is pronounced zhèn, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 镇?
The radical of 镇 is 钅, which carries the idea of "gold". Dictionaries list 镇 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 镇?
The traditional form of 镇 is 鎮. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 镇 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 镇 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 镇 is part of the HSK 6 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 镇定 and 镇静?
Both mean calm. 镇定 (zhèndìng) stresses staying composed and steady under pressure, while 镇静 (zhènjìng) leans toward being quiet and calm, and it also appears in medical words like 镇静剂 (zhènjìngjì), tranquilizer.
Is a 镇 bigger or smaller than a 村?
A 镇 (zhèn) is a town, which is larger than a 村 (cūn), a village. The head of a town is called 镇长 (zhènzhǎng).