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徵 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
徵zhǐto summon, to recruit; levy, tax; journey; invasionHSK 7, zg, 15 strokes, radical 彳, rank #22323, Very Hard
徵zhǐ4th note in pentatonic scale 五音[wu3 yin1], roughly solHSK 7, unknown, 15 strokes, radical 彳, rank #22323, Very Hard
徵zhēngto summon, to recruit; levy, tax; journey; invasionHSK 7, zg, 15 strokes, radical 彳, rank #22323, Very Hard
徵zhēng4th note in pentatonic scale 五音[wu3 yin1], roughly solHSK 7, unknown, 15 strokes, radical 彳, rank #22323, Very Hard
zhēng(zheng1)zheng
primary
T1
  1. 1to summon, to recruit; levy, tax; journey; invasion
  2. 24th note in pentatonic scale 五音[wu3 yin1], roughly sol
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

徵zhēng(zheng1)

The character 徵 (zhēng) primarily means to summon or recruit, often used in the context of calling people to service or duty. It can also refer to a levy or tax imposed by authorities. Additionally, in musical contexts, it denotes the fourth note in the pentatonic scale, roughly corresponding to 'sol'.

Strokes15Radical彳Frequency#22323DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, the idea of summoning or recruiting often relates to military service or civil duties, reflecting the historical importance of collective responsibility. The connection to music also highlights the significance of harmony and order in Chinese philosophy.

Memory Tip

Imagine a general summoning his troops (征) for an important journey. The character's structure can be visualized as a person (亻) being called forth by the sound (征) of a trumpet, echoing through the mountains, a metaphor for recruitment.

Meanings of 徵

zhēng(zheng1)
primary
1to summon, to recruit; levy, tax; journey; invasion
24th note in pentatonic scale 五音[wu3 yin1], roughly sol
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 徵 means.

About 徵

徵Simplified
15Strokes
彳Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 徵

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Podcast: 徵

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AI Study Notes for 徵

Quick Contrast

徵 (zhēng) vs 征 (zhēng) — use 徵 when referring to summoning or recruiting, and 征 for the act of journeying or expedition.

Usage Notes

This character is often used in formal contexts, such as legal or governmental documents. Common mistakes include confusing it with 征 (zheng1), meaning to conquer or invade; remember that 徵 (zhēng) is more about summoning. Pay attention to the tone to avoid miscommunication.

HSK Study Tips

Though not part of the official HSK levels, students at HSK 4 should focus on understanding its use in formal language and contexts involving music or governmental terms. It connects with other HSK vocabulary related to duties and responsibilities.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 徵 (zhēng) with 征 (zheng1), leading to misinterpretations of context. For instance, using '征' in place of '徵' when discussing music or recruitment can change the intended meaning.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 徵

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Etymology of 徵

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

step

Semantic (meaning)彳
+
Phonetic (sound)正
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

徵 = 彳 + 正. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 徵

IDS Structure⿲彳⿱山⿱一王攵
徵Full Character
=
彳chi4
left
山Shan1
top
一yi1
top
王Wang2
bottom
攵pu1
Exercise 1 of 3

Parts

Which of these is part of 徵?

How to say to summon, to recruit; levy, tax; journey; invasion in Chinese

“to summon, to recruit; levy, tax; journey; invasion” in Chinese is徵zhǐ

The character 徵 (zhēng) primarily means to summon or recruit, often used in the context of calling people to service or duty. It can also refer to a levy or tax imposed by authorities. Additionally, in musical contexts, it denotes the fourth note in the pentatonic scale, roughly corresponding to 'sol'.

When to use 徵

This character is often used in formal contexts, such as legal or governmental documents. Common mistakes include confusing it with 征 (zheng1), meaning to conquer or invade; remember that 徵 (zhēng) is more about summoning. Pay attention to the tone to avoid miscommunication.

徵 or something close to it

徵 (zhēng) vs 征 (zhēng) — use 徵 when referring to summoning or recruiting, and 征 for the act of journeying or expedition.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 徵 (zhēng) with 征 (zheng1), leading to misinterpretations of context. For instance, using '征' in place of '徵' when discussing music or recruitment can change the intended meaning.

Write 徵

徵

Practice writing 徵 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 徵

徵 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 3

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

____租, 供年轻夫妇的住房.

Wanted, accommodation for a young married couple.

Example Sentences for 徵 (2)

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1
徵租, 供年轻夫妇的住房.

zhǐ zū, , gōng nián qīng fū fù de zhù.

Wanted, accommodation for a young married couple.
2
因此,只要春天一到, 也就象徵复活节的脚步离我们也不远啰!

yīn cǐ, , zhī yào chūn tiān yī, dào , yě jiù xiàng zhǐ fù huó jié de jiǎo bù lí wǒ mén yě bù!

As long as there is spring, there will always be Easter!

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Word Family of 徵

Words Containing This Character3
徵zhēngsee also 徵|征[zhēng]
宫商角徵羽pre-Tang names of the five notes of the pentatonic scale, corresponding roughly to do, re, mi, sol, la宮商角徵羽
变徵之声modified fifth note of the pentatonic scale變徵之聲
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 徵

What does 宫商角徵羽 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 徵

The primary meaning of 徵 is to summon or recruit, often in a formal context.

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