证
zhèng · HSK 3
certificate
📜 证 = 讠(speech) + 正 (correct) — words that make it official
The 讠 radical marks speech or words, and 正 means correct or upright. Together: speech that establishes something as correct — a proof, certificate, or formal demonstration.
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.