biàn​zhèng

investigate

biàn distinguish

Original meaning: to cut into two parts

(knife) added between two (chisel) components or conveying the original meaning "to cut into two parts". The meaning has shifted over time and now means "distinguish". also provides the sound.

Components

SoundIconic component
biàn criminals accusing one another

Here used to depict an object being cut into two parts. also gives the sound.

Iconic component
dāo knife

Depicts a knife.


Character Evolution

Bronze form
Bronze Early Western Zhou ~1000 BC
Seal form
Seal Shuowen ~100 AD
Clerical form
Clerical Qin 221-206 BC
Regular Modern

Historical Pronunciations

Middle ChineseOld ChineseGloss
Baxter-SagartbjenX[b]renʔ distinguish

說文解字

《說文》:“辦,判也。从刀,辡聲。”

Sources

Character origin
漢語多功能字庫
Readings & variants
Unicode
Historical pronunciations
Baxter-Sagart
Historical images
Academia Sinica

zhèng proof Simplified

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Components

Meaning component
yán speech

is a component form of .

Sound component
zhèng, zheng, zhēng correct

Sources

Readings & variants
Unicode

proof Traditional

Original meaning: to admonish

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Components

Meaning component
yán speech
Sound component
dēng rise

Character Evolution

Seal form
Seal Shuowen ~100 AD
Clerical form
Clerical Western Han 202 BC-9 AD
Clerical form
Clerical Western Jin 266-316 AD
Regular Modern

Historical Pronunciations

Middle ChineseOld ChineseGloss
Baxter-SagarttsyingHtəŋ-s testify, prove

說文解字

《說文》:“證,告也。从言,登聲。”

Sources

Character origin
漢語多功能字庫
Readings & variants
Unicode
Historical pronunciations
Baxter-Sagart
Historical images
Academia Sinica