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March 24, 2026
鄭zhèng(zheng4)
The character 鄭 (zhèng) primarily refers to a historical state during the Warring States period, located in present-day Henan province. Additionally, it is a common Chinese surname, representing various families and ancestral lineages in Chinese history.
Strokes14Radical阝Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
鄭 is significant in Chinese history, often associated with the Zheng state, which played a vital role in the political landscape of ancient China. The state is also known for its contributions to Chinese philosophy and warfare strategies.
Memory Tip
Imagine the character 鄭 as a 'town' (the radical 邑) with a 'flag' (the component 正) representing the state of Zheng. The 'flag' stands tall, symbolizing the pride of this ancient state, and the pronunciation 'zhèng' sounds like 'strength' to help you remember its importance.
Meanings of 鄭
zhèng(zheng4)
1state in today's Henan; surname
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 鄭
鄭Simplified
14Strokes
阝Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 鄭
Podcast: 鄭
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AI Study Notes for 鄭
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine the character 鄭 as a 'town' (the radical 邑) with a 'flag' (the component 正) representing the state of Zheng. The 'flag' stands tall, symbolizing the pride of this ancient state, and the pronunciation 'zhèng' sounds like 'strength' to help you remember its importance.
Usage Notes
When using 鄭 as a surname, it is common in both formal and informal contexts. A common mistake is confusing it with other surnames that have similar sounds, such as 张 (zhāng) or 赵 (zhào). Remember to emphasize the fourth tone when pronouncing it correctly.
HSK Study Tips
Although 鄭 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects to Level 3 terms like 城市 (chéngshì, city) and 国家 (guójiā, country), emphasizing geographical and cultural concepts. Learners should focus on recognizing its historical significance.
Cultural Note
鄭 is significant in Chinese history, often associated with the Zheng state, which played a vital role in the political landscape of ancient China. The state is also known for its contributions to Chinese philosophy and warfare strategies.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mispronounce 鄭 by using the wrong tone, saying 'zheng' instead of 'zhèng'. Additionally, some may confuse it with similar-sounding surnames like 郑 (zhèng) and 张 (zhāng).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 鄭
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Cultural Notes for 鄭
🏮Cultural insight
鄭 is significant in Chinese history, often associated with the Zheng state, which played a vital role in the political landscape of ancient China. The state is also known for its contributions to Chinese philosophy and warfare strategies.
Word Family of 鄭
Words Containing This Character8
郑zhèngsurname Zheng鄭
郑重zhèngzhòngserious鄭重
郑州Zhengzhou prefecture level city and capital of Henan Province in central China鄭州
郑州市Zhengzhou prefecture level city and capital of Henan Province in central China鄭州市
郑重其事serious about the matter鄭重其事
郑成功Koxinga (1624-1662), military leader鄭成功
郑伊健Ekin Cheng (1967-), Hong Kong actor and pop singer鄭伊健
郑州大学Zhengzhou University鄭州大學
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 郑 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 鄭
Yes, 鄭 (zhèng) is a common surname, ranking among the top surnames in China.
鄭 is written as 郑 in simplified Chinese, which is the version used in mainland China.
鄭 was an important state during the Warring States period, known for its cultural and political influence.
