HSK · Level 66
75 words
Chinese word
挣
Pronunciation
Pinyinzhèng
Meaning
- verbearn
Example
他每月挣五千元。tā měi yuè zhèng wǔ qiān yuán
He earns 5,000 yuan a month.
More examples
他暑假在工地干活挣工钱。tā shǔ jià zài gōng dì gàn huó zhēng gōng qián
During summer vacation, he works at a construction site and earns wages.
Core concept
Effort, especially work, is turned into money or a financial return.
Common phrases
挣生活费zhēng shēng huó fèi
earn living expenses
挣不少钱zhēng bù shǎo qián
earn quite a bit of money
挣工钱zhēng gōng qián
earn wages
Similar words
赚zhuàn: Gain money from a business deal, trade, or investment.
赚钱zhuàn qián: Earn money by working or taking part in an activity.
赚取zhuàn qǔ: Gain an amount of money or profit in formal language.
获得huò dé: Obtain something valuable, such as a right or benefit, through action or effort.
Definition in Chinese
靠工作或努力挣得报酬，多指以劳动为来源的金钱获得。kào gōng zuò huò nǔ lì zhēng dé bào chóu duō zhǐ yǐ láo dòng wèi lái yuán de jīn qián huò dé
Word origin
挣 (zhēng, "earn") combines 扌 (shǒu, "hand"), which signals an action, with 争 (zhēng, "strive"), which supplies the sound and suggests active effort.
Usage tips
- English earn also covers non-money results such as respect or trust, while this everyday Chinese verb normally centers on money gained through work or effort.