Meanings of 掙
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About 掙
Podcast: 掙
Podcast: 掙
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AI Study Notes for 掙
挣 (zhèng) — use 掙 (zhēng) when emphasizing the effort involved in the struggle, while 挣 (zhèng) often refers to earning money or making a living.
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing zhēng, as it is a first tone and can be easily confused with other words in different tones. It is often used in both formal and informal contexts, particularly in discussions about personal effort and challenges.
Although 掙 (zhēng) is not included in the official HSK vocabulary, it relates to the concept of effort found in HSK Level 3 words such as 努力 (nǔlì, to strive). Students should focus on understanding its usage in contexts involving hard work and perseverance.
Learners often confuse 掙 (zhēng) with other similar-sounding terms. For example, using it in the wrong tone can lead to miscommunication, such as saying 'zhèng' instead of 'zhēng'. Correct usage would be '我在努力掙錢' (I am struggling to earn money).
Pronunciation of 掙
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Etymology of 掙
To fight 爭 by hand 扌; 爭 also provides the pronunciation
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 掙
- 1The giveawayTo fight 爭 by hand 扌; 爭 also provides the pronunciation
- 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 掙? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 掙
Identify the Components
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How to say to struggle, to strive, to endeavor in Chinese
“to struggle, to strive, to endeavor” in Chinese is掙
The character 掙 (zhēng) means to struggle or strive, often in the context of fighting against difficulties or working hard to achieve something. It conveys a sense of effort and determination in the face of obstacles, and is commonly used in phrases related to personal endeavors and struggles for success.
When to use 掙
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing zhēng, as it is a first tone and can be easily confused with other words in different tones. It is often used in both formal and informal contexts, particularly in discussions about personal effort and challenges.
掙 or something close to it
挣 (zhèng) — use 掙 (zhēng) when emphasizing the effort involved in the struggle, while 挣 (zhèng) often refers to earning money or making a living.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 掙 (zhēng) with other similar-sounding terms. For example, using it in the wrong tone can lead to miscommunication, such as saying 'zhèng' instead of 'zhēng'. Correct usage would be '我在努力掙錢' (I am struggling to earn money).
Write 掙
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Practice writing 掙 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 掙
Compound Meaning
What does 挣 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 掙
While both convey the idea of effort, 掙 emphasizes struggling against difficulties, whereas 努力 simply means to make an effort.
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