HSK 4, n, 9 strokes, radical 攵, rank #14687, Medium
政
zhèng
politics
HSK 4, n, 9 strokes, radical 攵, rank #14687, Medium
政
zhèng
government
HSK 4, n, 9 strokes, radical 攵, rank #14687, Medium
zhèng(zheng4)zheng T4
1political
2politics
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
政zhèng(zheng4)
The character 政 (zhèng) refers to politics or government. It encompasses the systems, processes, and activities associated with governance and public administration. Commonly used in contexts related to political discussions, government policies, and civic engagement.
Strokes9Radical攵Frequency#14687DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In China, the concept of 政 is deeply tied to the idea of governance by the Communist Party, which plays a central role in daily life and societal norms. Political discussions are often influenced by historical events, such as the Cultural Revolution, which shaped modern political thought.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'zhèng' (sounds like 'zing') where a government official stands at a podium, giving a 'zinging' speech about laws and policies. The character itself has the radical '政' which suggests governance, like a ruler overseeing the land, making decisions that affect the people.
Meanings of 政
zhèng(zheng4)
1political
2politics
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
Play it, then pick what 政 means.
About 政
政Simplified
9Strokes
攵Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#14687Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4
Podcast: 政
Podcast: 政
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AI Study Notes for 政
Quick Contrast
政治 (zhèngzhì) vs 政策 (zhèngcè) — use 政 when referring to the concept of politics or governance in general, while 政策 specifically refers to policies enacted by the government.
Usage Notes
Be mindful that 政 is often used in more formal contexts, such as academic discussions or news articles about government affairs. Learners might confuse it with other similar-sounding terms, so focus on its specific political connotation. Common collocations include 政府 (government), 政策 (policy), and 政治 (politics).
HSK Study Tips
While 政 is not directly associated with a specific HSK level, it is relevant for learners at intermediate levels who are starting to engage with political topics. Students should focus on related vocabulary like 政治 and 政府 to build a broader understanding of political discourse.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 政 with 宗 (zōng), which relates to religion or sects. For example, saying 政教 (zhèngjiào) instead of 宗教 (zōngjiào) to mean religion is incorrect. Always ensure you use 政 in contexts related to politics or governance.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 政
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Knowing 政 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
政 = 攵 + 正. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 政
IDS Structure⿰正攵
政Full Character
=
正zheng1
left
攵pu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 政?
How to say political in Chinese
“political” in Chinese is政zhèng
The character 政 (zhèng) refers to politics or government. It encompasses the systems, processes, and activities associated with governance and public administration. Commonly used in contexts related to political discussions, government policies, and civic engagement.
When to use 政
Be mindful that 政 is often used in more formal contexts, such as academic discussions or news articles about government affairs. Learners might confuse it with other similar-sounding terms, so focus on its specific political connotation. Common collocations include 政府 (government), 政策 (policy), and 政治 (politics).
政 or something close to it
政治 (zhèngzhì) vs 政策 (zhèngcè) — use 政 when referring to the concept of politics or governance in general, while 政策 specifically refers to policies enacted by the government.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 政 with 宗 (zōng), which relates to religion or sects. For example, saying 政教 (zhèngjiào) instead of 宗教 (zōngjiào) to mean religion is incorrect. Always ensure you use 政 in contexts related to politics or governance.
Write 政
政
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Practice writing 政 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 政
政 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.
Economically and politically, this affair couldn't come at a worse time.
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Cultural Notes for 政
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, politics often emphasizes individual rights and democratic processes, while in China, the focus may be more on collective responsibility and state stability.
Word Family of 政
Compounds1
晸
Words Containing This Character20
政府zhèngfǔgovernment
政治zhèngzhìpolitics
政策zhèngcèpolicy
行政xíngzhèngadministrative
财政cáizhèngfinancial財政
市政府city hall
政客politician
政权zhèngquánregime政權
政zhèngpolitical
政治家statesman
市政municipal administration
政协CPPCC (Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference)政協
市政厅city hall市政廳
财政部Ministry of Finance財政部
执政to hold power執政
邮政yóuzhèngpostal郵政
政变coup d'état政變
执政官consul (of the Roman Republic)執政官
政党zhèngdǎngpolitical party政黨
党政Party and government administration黨政
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 政
What does 政府 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 政
In Chinese news articles, 政 (zhèng) often appears in discussions about government actions, political events, or policies. It helps to inform readers about political changes and governmental decisions that affect society.
政 (zhèng) can be used in phrases such as '政府政策' (zhèngfǔ zhèngcè), which means 'government policy.' You can also say '政治问题' (zhèngzhì wèntí) to mean 'political issues.' It's important to place it in contexts where political discussion is relevant.
Common phrases that include 政 (zhèng) are '政治' (zhèngzhì) meaning 'politics' and '行政' (xíngzhèng) meaning 'administration.' These phrases are frequently used in discussions about government and policy.
政 (zhèng) translates to 'politics' or 'government' in Chinese. It is often used in contexts related to political affairs, governance, and political systems. This character is key in understanding discussions about government policies and political ideologies.
政 generally refers to government or governance, while 政治 specifically means politics as a broader concept, including political activities and ideologies.
Yes, but it is more common in formal discussions about government and public policy rather than casual conversations.
Absolutely! It frequently appears in compounds like 政府 (government) and 政策 (policy), which are essential for discussing political matters.
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