陣 meaning and stroke order
Row, column; ranks, troop formation
How to write 陣, stroke by stroke
9 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
Meaning of 陣
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- disposition of troops
- wave
- spate
- burst
- spell
- short period of time
How 陣 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A formation 阝of soldiers 車.
Radical: 阝 (place), shared by 160 characters on this site.
How to remember 陣
陣 puts 阝 next to 車 (chē, chariot). The hint describes it as a formation (阝) of soldiers and chariots (車), lined up in ranks for battle.
陣 (zhèn) is the traditional form. Simplified Chinese writes it 阵, as in the common words 阵地 (zhèndì) and 阵营 (zhènyíng). Beyond the military sense, it is very common as a measure word for short bursts of wind, rain, laughter or feeling, e.g. 一陣風 (yī zhèn fēng) "a gust of wind".
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 陣 (zhèn) with 陳 (chén, to display; a surname). They look alike, but 陳 has 東 on the right, not 車. Also keep the fourth tone in zhèn. Do not say zhēn.
Common words with 陣
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 一陣 | yīzhèn | a burst; a fit | HSK 7-9 |
| 陣營 | zhènyíng | group of people; camp | HSK 7-9 |
| 陣容 | zhènróng | troop arrangement; battle formation | HSK 7-9 |
| 一陣子 | yīzhènzi | a while; a spell | |
| 陣亡 | zhènwáng | to die in battle | |
| 陣地 | zhèndì | (military) position; front | |
| 對陣 | duìzhèn | (of armies) to face each other, ready for battle; (sports) (of two teams) to play against | |
| 陣線 | zhènxiàn | a front (militant group); line of battle | |
| 陣子 | zhènzi | period of time | |
| 這陣子 | zhèzhènzi | now; at present | |
| 上陣 | shàngzhèn | to go into battle | |
| 陣型 | zhènxíng | formation (of a sports team, troops etc) | |
| 達陣 | dázhèn | touchdown; try (sports) | |
| 臨陣 | línzhèn | just before the battle; to approach the front line |
Questions about 陣
How many strokes are in 陣?
陣 is written with 9 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 陣 mean?
陣 (zhèn) means row, column; ranks, troop formation. A common word with it is 一阵 (yīzhèn), meaning "a burst; a fit".
How do you pronounce 陣?
陣 is pronounced zhèn, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 陣?
The radical of 陣 is 阝, which carries the idea of "place". Dictionaries list 陣 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 陣?
陣 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 阵, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 一陣 and 一陣子?
一陣 (yīzhèn) usually counts a single burst of something, like rain or applause. 一陣子 (yīzhènzi) means "a while" or "a period of time", as in 我忙了一陣子 (wǒ máng le yīzhènzi), "I was busy for a while".
Can 陣 be used outside military topics?
Yes. Words like 陣營 (zhènyíng, camp or side) and 陣容 (zhènróng, lineup) are used for politics, sports teams and casts. 對陣 (duìzhèn) commonly means two teams playing against each other.