Meaning of 挣
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to struggle to get free
- to strive to acquire
- to make (money)
- used in 掙扎|挣扎[zheng1 zha2]
How to use 挣
In everyday speech 挣 (zhèng) most often means to earn money, as in 挣钱 (zhèngqián). Example: 他一个月挣五千块。(Tā yí ge yuè zhèng wǔqiān kuài.) He earns five thousand yuan a month. It can also mean to break free, as in 挣脱 (zhèngtuō).
挣 combines the hand radical 扌 with 争 (zhēng), which means to fight or compete. Picture your hand fighting to get something, whether that is money or your freedom.
Common mistake: Learners often say 挣扎 with a fourth tone, but here 挣 is first tone: zhēngzhá. Also do not confuse 挣 with 争 (zhēng, to compete) or 睁 (zhēng, to open the eyes), which share the same sound part.
挣 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
挣 zhèng · to struggle to get free · 9 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 挣.
Questions about 挣
What does 挣 mean?
挣 (zhèng) means "to struggle to get free; to strive to acquire" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 挣?
挣 is made of 1 character: 挣 (9 strokes). That is 9 strokes in total.
Is 挣 an HSK word?
Yes. 挣 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 挣 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 挣 is written 掙.
What is the difference between 挣钱 and 赚钱?
Both mean to make money. 挣钱 (zhèngqián) suggests earning through work or effort, while 赚钱 (zhuànqián) often suggests making a profit, such as in business or investing. In casual speech they are frequently interchangeable.
When is 挣 pronounced zhēng instead of zhèng?
It is zhēng mainly in the word 挣扎 (zhēngzhá), to struggle, and in phrases built on it like 垂死挣扎 (chuísǐ zhēngzhá). In 挣钱, 挣得 and 挣脱 it is zhèng.