保证

• Pinyin: bǎo zhèng
• Hanzi breakdown: 保 = 亻(person) + 呆 (phonetic), meaning protect; 证 = 讠(speech) + 正 (correct), meaning to prove

Meaning

To guarantee; to assure; guarantee. A promise or assurance that something will happen.

Used both as a verb (to guarantee) and a noun (a guarantee). Very common in daily life for making promises, and in business for quality assurance. 保证书 is a written guarantee or pledge.

Examples

1. 我保证明天一定按时完成。 I guarantee I will finish on time tomorrow.
2. 这家店对产品的质量有保证。 This shop guarantees the quality of its products.
3. 老师让他写了一份保证书。 The teacher made him write a written pledge.

Usage Guide

Context: promises, business, everyday

Tone: firm

Do Say

• 我保证不会再迟到了。(I guarantee I won't be late again.)
• 质量有保证，你放心买吧。(The quality is guaranteed — go ahead and buy it.)

Don't Say

• 保证天气明天会好 (Don't use 保证 to guarantee things you can't control — use 希望 for things like weather)

Origin & History

Compound of 保 (to protect, ensure) and 证 (to prove, evidence), meaning to provide proof of certainty.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal