挣

• Pinyin: zhèng
• Hanzi breakdown: 挣 = 扌(hand) + 争 (to compete/struggle)

Meaning

To earn; to make (money). To gain income through work or effort.

Informal way to say 'earn money.' Often used in spoken Chinese. Common phrases: 挣钱 (earn money), 挣工资 (earn wages). More colloquial than 赚. Note: Also pronounced zhēng meaning 'to struggle.'

Examples

1. 他每个月能挣一万多块钱。 He can earn more than ten thousand yuan per month.
2. 年轻人刚工作，挣得不多很正常。 It's normal for young people who just started working to not earn much.
3. 她靠自己的努力挣到了第一桶金。 She earned her first pot of gold through her own efforts.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, work, finance

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 你一个月挣多少？(How much do you earn per month?)
• 挣钱不容易啊。(It's not easy to earn money.)

Don't Say

• 挣经验 (挣 is for money — for experience, use 获得 or 积累)

Origin & History

Composed of 扌(hand radical) and 争 (to compete). Earning through competitive effort.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal