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March 24, 2026
甄zhēn(Zhen1)
The character 甄 (zhēn) primarily means to grade, examine, or discern, often in contexts involving evaluation or assessment. It can also be a surname in Chinese culture, commonly found as Zhen. Usage can vary from formal settings, such as academic evaluations, to informal discussions about discerning qualities or characteristics.
Strokes13Radical瓦Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
The character 甄 is often associated with the traditional practice of discerning quality in various fields, such as tea tasting or art appraisal, reflecting the Chinese value placed on careful evaluation and appreciation of quality.
Memory Tip
Imagine a judge carefully examining a gem (the radical '玉' represents jade or gem) to discern its value. The sound 'zhēn' can remind you of 'gem'—both valuable and needing careful evaluation.
Meanings of 甄
zhēn(Zhen1)
1to grade, to examine, to discern; surname
2to evaluate
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 甄
甄Simplified
13Strokes
瓦Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 甄
Podcast: 甄
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AI Study Notes for 甄
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a judge carefully examining a gem (the radical '玉' represents jade or gem) to discern its value. The sound 'zhēn' can remind you of 'gem'—both valuable and needing careful evaluation.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 甄 with similar characters like 鉴 (jiàn), which also means to evaluate but carries a different nuance. It is more commonly used in formal contexts, so be mindful of the setting when using it. Common collocations include 甄别 (zhēnbié), meaning to identify or distinguish.
HSK Study Tips
While 甄 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects to HSK Level 4 words like 鉴定 (jiàndìng, to identify) and 评价 (píngjià, to evaluate). Students should focus on recognizing its usage in formal contexts and practice constructing sentences that involve evaluation.
Cultural Note
The character 甄 is often associated with the traditional practice of discerning quality in various fields, such as tea tasting or art appraisal, reflecting the Chinese value placed on careful evaluation and appreciation of quality.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 甄 with 诊 (zhěn, to diagnose), leading to incorrect sentences like 诊清楚 (zhěn qīngchǔ, meaning 'to diagnose clearly') instead of using 甄 for discernment contexts. Remember, 甄 is about evaluation, not medical diagnosis.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 甄
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Grammar Patterns of 甄
甄 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
chú zhēn xuǎn shì yí tóu zī de kē jì kāi fā xiàng mù wài, , chuàng yè zī jīn gōng sī bìng wéi huò dé tóu zī de gōng sī tí gōng guǎn、 lǐ 、 shì cháng tuī guǎng hé jiàn lì wǎng luò děng fāng miàn de.
Besides selecting technological ventures for investment, the firms provide management, marketing and networking advice to the investee companies.
Cultural Notes for 甄
🏮Cultural insight
The character 甄 is often associated with the traditional practice of discerning quality in various fields, such as tea tasting or art appraisal, reflecting the Chinese value placed on careful evaluation and appreciation of quality.
Word Family of 甄
Words Containing This Character6
甄选to select甄選
甄zhēnto evaluate
甄别to screen甄別
甄审to screen and select (candidates etc)甄審
甄陶to make sth of clay
甄录to employ by an examination甄錄
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 甄选 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 甄
甄 focuses more on discerning or examining qualities, while 鉴 is about appraisal or identification, often used in more formal contexts.
Yes, 甄 is a recognized surname in China, though it may not be as common as others.
Yes, but it is more often used in formal or literary contexts related to evaluation or examination.
