Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
震 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
震
zhèn
to shake
HSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 雨, rank #7160, Very Hard
震
zhèn
to vibrate
HSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 雨, rank #7160, Very Hard
震
zhèn
to jolt
HSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 雨, rank #7160, Very Hard
震
zhèn
to quake
HSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 雨, rank #7160, Very Hard
震
zhèn
excited
HSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 雨, rank #7160, Very Hard
震
zhèn
shocked
HSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 雨, rank #7160, Very Hard
震
zhèn
one of the Eight Trigrams 八卦[bā guà], symbolizing thunder
HSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 雨, rank #7160, Very Hard
震
zhèn
☳
HSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 雨, rank #7160, Very Hard
震
zhèn
shake, quake, tremor; to excite
HSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 雨, rank #7160, Very Hard
震
zhèn
one of the Eight Trigrams 八卦[ba1 gua4], symbolizing thunder
HSK 7, unknown, 15 strokes, radical 雨, rank #7160, Very Hard
zhèn(zhen4)zhen T4
1to shake
2to vibrate
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
震zhèn(zhen4)
震 (zhèn) means to shake, vibrate, or jolt, often associated with physical movements like earthquakes or thunder. It can also imply excitement or shock in emotional contexts. Commonly used in phrases related to natural phenomena or strong emotional reactions.
Strokes15Radical雨Frequency#7160DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In traditional Chinese cosmology, 震 represents thunder and is one of the Eight Trigrams (八卦), symbolizing movement and change. It reflects how ancient Chinese understood natural phenomena and its connection to emotions.
Memory tip
Think of 震 as a 'jolt' that shakes you awake. The character resembles a person (the bottom part) being jolted by thunder (the top part), which can help you remember both its sound and meaning. Imagine a loud thunderclap that shakes the ground beneath you.
Meanings of 震
zhèn(zhen4)
1to shake
2to vibrate
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 震 means.
About 震
震Simplified
15Strokes
雨Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#7160Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 震
Podcast: 震
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 震
Quick Contrast
震 (zhèn) vs 摇 (yáo): use 震 when referring to a strong, sudden shaking (like an earthquake), while 摇 is used for gentle or rhythmic shaking (like rocking). 震 (zhèn) vs 振 (zhèn): use 震 for physical shaking, while 振 often refers to a more figurative sense of uplifting or invigorating.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 震 with 震动 (zhèndòng), which specifically means 'to vibrate' and is more technical. It is often used in informal contexts when expressing surprise or shock. Ensure to use the correct tone; 'zhèn' is pronounced with a falling tone.
HSK Study Tips
震 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists but is relevant for learners aiming for intermediate levels. Focus on its use in idiomatic expressions and its association with natural disasters, as this will enhance your understanding of context.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mix up 震 with 震动 (zhèndòng), thinking they mean the same thing; however, the latter is more about vibration. For example, saying '我感到震动' (I feel a shake) instead of '我感到震' (I feel shocked) can lead to confusion.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 震
Premium — Locked
Tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 震, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 震 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 震?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 震 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.
震 = 雨 + 辰. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 震
IDS Structure⿱雨辰
震Full character
=
雨yu3
top
辰chen2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 震?
How to say to shake in Chinese
“to shake” in Chinese is震zhèn
震 (zhèn) means to shake, vibrate, or jolt, often associated with physical movements like earthquakes or thunder. It can also imply excitement or shock in emotional contexts. Commonly used in phrases related to natural phenomena or strong emotional reactions.
When to use 震
Be careful not to confuse 震 with 震动 (zhèndòng), which specifically means 'to vibrate' and is more technical. It is often used in informal contexts when expressing surprise or shock. Ensure to use the correct tone; 'zhèn' is pronounced with a falling tone.
震 or something close to it
震 (zhèn) vs 摇 (yáo): use 震 when referring to a strong, sudden shaking (like an earthquake), while 摇 is used for gentle or rhythmic shaking (like rocking). 震 (zhèn) vs 振 (zhèn): use 震 for physical shaking, while 振 often refers to a more figurative sense of uplifting or invigorating.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mix up 震 with 震动 (zhèndòng), thinking they mean the same thing; however, the latter is more about vibration. For example, saying '我感到震动' (I feel a shake) instead of '我感到震' (I feel shocked) can lead to confusion.
Write 震
震
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 震 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar patterns of 震
震 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 10 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.
