挣

掙

zhēng, zhèng

争 + 扌

HSK 2.0Level 5

HSK 3.0Level 5

Definitions

zhèng (verb) to make (money); to earn

zhēng (verb) to struggle; to strive

Etymology

To fight 争 by hand 扌; 争 also provides the pronunciation

About

挣 (traditional form 掙) is a phono-semantic compound: 扌 (hand) points to the action, while 争 (to fight) both hints at the meaning and supplies the pronunciation. Its basic sense is struggling or breaking free by physical force. From this idea of intense effort, the meaning extended to working hard to earn a living or money. The character thus captures both violently throwing off constraints and the arduous labor of securing financial resources.

Etymology Hide

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他在努力挣钱。

Tā zài nǔlì zhèng qián.

He is working hard to earn money.

我每天挣钱很辛苦。

Wǒ měitiān zhèng qián hěn xīnkǔ.

I earn money very hard every day.

他在水中挣扎求救。

Tā zài shuǐ zhōng zhēngzhá qiújiù.

He is struggling in the water calling for help.

她挣扎着摆脱了噩梦。

Tā zhēngzházhe bǎituō le èmèng.

She struggled to break free from the nightmare.

那只狗挣脱了锁链。

Nà zhǐ gǒu zhèngtuō le suǒliàn.

That dog broke free from the chain.

为了梦想，他拼命挣钱存钱。

Wèile mèngxiǎng, tā pīnmìng zhèng qián cún qián.

For the dream, he desperately earns and saves money.

尽管身体不适，他仍然挣扎着完成工作。

Jǐnguǎn shēntǐ bùshì, tā réngrán zhēngzházhe wánchéng gōngzuò.

Despite feeling unwell, he still struggled to finish the work.

在现实的压力下，人们不得不挣扎着寻找平衡。

Zài xiànshí de yālì xià, rénmen bùdebù zhēngzházhe xúnzhǎo pínghéng.

Under the pressure of reality, people have to struggle to find balance.

Related Characters

Component: 争

Component: 扌

挣