认证
rèn zhèng · HSK 7
to authenticate
✅ 认 (recognize) + 证 (proof/certificate) = recognize the proof, so to authenticate
认 means to recognize or acknowledge; 证 means proof or certificate (as in 证书). Together: an authority acknowledges your proof, hence to authenticate or approve. 认 shares its right side with 认识 (to know/recognize).
认 — speech radical 讠 + 忍 rěn (phonetic)
认 is a semantic-phonetic compound: the speech radical 讠 (simplified from 言) signals meaning related to words or speaking, while 忍 rěn provides the sound. The traditional form 認 carried senses of 'acknowledge' or 'recognize through speech,' which extended to today's meanings of recognizing, identifying, and admitting.
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.