郑

鄭

zhèng

关 + 阝

Definitions

Zhèng (noun) ancient Chinese state during Warring States period

zhèng (adjective) serious; solemn

Etymology

Simplified form of 鄭. Phonosemantic compound. ⻏ represents the meaning and 奠 represents the sound.

About

郑 is the simplified form of 鄭, originally the name of an ancient Chinese state and later a common surname. The traditional character 鄭 is a phonosemantic compound: the phonetic 奠 (diàn) depicts a wine offering placed on a table, while the right-side radical 阝 (yì) marks it as a place name or settlement. The simplified 郑 replaces the complex phonetic with the simpler 关 (guān), keeping the city radical 阝 on the right to retain its geographic associations.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我的老师是郑先生。

Wǒ de lǎoshī shì Zhèng xiānsheng.

My teacher is Mr. Zheng.

郑州是河南省的省会。

Zhèngzhōu shì Hénán shěng de shěnghuì.

Zhengzhou is the capital of Henan Province.

他郑重地宣布了消息。

Tā zhèngzhòng de xuānbù le xiāoxi.

He solemnly announced the news.

我必须郑重地告诉你这件事。

Wǒ bìxū zhèngzhòng de gàosu nǐ zhè jiàn shì.

I must tell you this matter seriously.

郑国是春秋时期的一个诸侯国。

Zhèngguó shì Chūnqiū shíqī de yī gè zhūhóuguó.

Zheng was a vassal state during the Spring and Autumn period.

尽管他姓郑，但他不是河南人。

Jǐnguǎn tā xìng Zhèng, dàn tā bù shì Hénán rén.

Although his surname is Zheng, he is not from Henan.

在重要场合，他说话总是很郑重。

Zài zhòngyào chǎnghé, tā shuōhuà zǒng shì hěn zhèngzhòng.

On important occasions, he always speaks very solemnly.

如果你计划去郑州出差，记得提前订好酒店。

Rúguǒ nǐ jìhuà qù Zhèngzhōu chūchāi, jìde tíqián dìng hǎo jiǔdiàn.

If you plan to go to Zhengzhou on a business trip, remember to book a hotel in advance.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 关

Component: 阝

Example Words