凭证
píng zhèng · HSK 7
voucher
🧾 凭 rely-on + 证 certificate = the document you rely on as proof; a voucher or receipt
凭 means to lean on or rely on as evidence, and 证 means to certify or prove. Together they name the paper trail you fall back on: a receipt, voucher, or certificate that backs up a claim. Pronounced píng zhèng.
凭 — 任 (rèn) phonetic + 几 (jī) table/bench
Originally written 凴 with 任 as phonetic over 几 (a low table or armrest), depicting leaning on something for support. The modern form 凭 simplifies the top to 任. Core meanings extended from 'to lean on' to 'rely on,' 'based on,' and 'evidence/proof.'
证 — speech radical 讠 + 正 (correct/upright)
证 is a semantic-phonetic compound. The speech radical 讠 (言) signals it relates to words or testimony, while 正 (zhèng, 'upright/correct') gives the sound and hints at 'verifying truth.' Originally written 證, it meant to testify or prove; today it means evidence, certificate, or to prove.