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正经 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
正经
zhèngjing
decent
HSK 7, d, 13 strokes, rank #5033, Very Hard
正经
zhèngjing
honorable
HSK 7, d, 13 strokes, rank #5033, Very Hard
正经
zhèngjing
proper
HSK 7, d, 13 strokes, rank #5033, Very Hard
正经
zhèngjing
serious
HSK 7, d, 13 strokes, rank #5033, Very Hard
正经
zhèngjing
according to standards
HSK 7, d, 13 strokes, rank #5033, Very Hard
zhèngjing(zheng4jing5)zheng jing T4
1decent
2honorable
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March 24, 2026
正经(正經)zhèngjing(zheng4jing5)
正经 (zhèng jīng) refers to a quality of being proper, serious, or decent, often associated with behavior or attitudes that conform to social standards. It is commonly used to describe someone who is earnest or to indicate that something is legitimate and not frivolous.
Strokes13Frequency#5033DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, being 正经 is highly valued, especially in professional settings. It reflects a person's integrity and seriousness, which are essential traits in maintaining respect and relationships.
Memory tip
Think of 正 (zhèng) as resembling the character for 'correct' or 'right', and 经 (jīng) as if it means 'to pass through'. Imagine a serious person navigating through life with a 'correct' and 'proper' approach, ensuring they 'pass through' situations honorably.
Meanings of 正经
zhèngjing(zheng4jing5)
1decent
2honorable
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 正经 means.
About 正经
正经Simplified
正經Traditional
13Strokes
—Radical
副形词xíngróngcíadj-adverb (adj.-adv.)Part of Speech
#5033Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7HSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 正经
Podcast: 正经
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AI study notes for 正经
Quick Contrast
正经 (zhèngjing) vs 认真 (rènzhēn) — use 正经 for describing proper behavior or seriousness in a social context, while 认真 emphasizes diligence or conscientiousness in tasks.
Usage Notes
正经 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but it's crucial to use it appropriately to avoid sounding overly stiff. Common collocations include 正经事 (serious matter) and 正经人 (decent person). Be mindful of the tone; using it in a light-hearted context might come off as sarcastic.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 正经 connects with other advanced vocabulary related to character and behavior, such as 认真 (rèn zhēn, serious) and 诚实 (chéng shí, honest). Focus on using it in sentences to describe behaviors or attitudes in different contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 正经 with similar-sounding terms. For example, saying '他不正经' (tā bù zhèng jīng) to mean 'he is not serious' may imply he is frivolous, which could be too strong; instead, consider using '他不认真' (tā bù rèn zhēn) for 'he is not serious' in a softer context.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 正经
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正经 (zhèng jīng) refers to a quality of being proper, serious, or decent, often associated with behavior or attitudes that conform to social standards. It is commonly used to describe someone who is earnest or to indicate that something is legitimate and not frivolous.
When to use 正经
正经 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but it's crucial to use it appropriately to avoid sounding overly stiff. Common collocations include 正经事 (serious matter) and 正经人 (decent person). Be mindful of the tone; using it in a light-hearted context might come off as sarcastic.
正经 or something close to it
正经 (zhèngjing) vs 认真 (rènzhēn) — use 正经 for describing proper behavior or seriousness in a social context, while 认真 emphasizes diligence or conscientiousness in tasks.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 正经 with similar-sounding terms. For example, saying '他不正经' (tā bù zhèng jīng) to mean 'he is not serious' may imply he is frivolous, which could be too strong; instead, consider using '他不认真' (tā bù rèn zhēn) for 'he is not serious' in a softer context.
Write 正经
正
经
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Practice writing 正经 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 正经
正经 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 5 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他一本____地宣称“国际政治是一场权力之争”。
He grandly declared that "international politics is a struggle for power".
Example sentences for 正经 (10)
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1
他一本正经地宣称“国际政治是一场权力之争”。
tā yī běn zhèngjing dì xuānchēng“ guójì zhèngzhì shì yī chǎng quánlì zhī zhēng”。
He grandly declared that "international politics is a struggle for power".
2
他是个一本正经、寡言少语的人。
tā shì gè yī běn zhèngjing、 guǎ yán shǎo yǔ de rén。
