证

• Pinyin: zhèng
• Hanzi breakdown: 证 = 讠(speech radical) + 正 (correct), simplified from 證; meaning 'to prove' or 'certificate'

Meaning

Certificate; permit; card. A document that serves as proof of identity, qualification, or authorisation.

Short for various types of certificates and permits. Commonly appears in compound words: 身份证 (ID card), 学生证 (student ID), 驾驶证 (driver's licence), 工作证 (work permit). As a standalone word, it usually refers to a certificate or card in general.

Examples

1. 出门记得带上你的证。 Remember to bring your ID when you go out.
2. 他的学生证上个月过期了。 His student ID expired last month.
3. 进入大楼需要出示工作证。 Entering the building requires showing a work permit.

Usage Guide

Context: official, identification, everyday

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 你的证带了吗？(Did you bring your ID?)
• 办这个事需要什么证？(What certificate do you need for this matter?)

Don't Say

• 给我看你的证。(In polite situations, say 请出示您的证件 — 给我看你的证 sounds too blunt and may seem rude)

Origin & History

Originally written 證, composed of 言 (speech) + 登 (to ascend, to record). The original meaning was 'evidence' or 'proof,' later extending to mean 'certificate.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal