徵 (zhēng) - To summon & to levy

徵Tone 1

zhēng ｜ 15 strokes ｜ radical:

丈志

徵 · zhēng

To summon;

to levy;

to collect;

to evidence;

to prove;

a note in the ancient Chinese pentatonic scale;

also used in names.

To summonto levyto collect

Usage highlights

Levy taxesMilitary conscriptionSeek opinionsCharacteristicEvidenceSymbol

Synonyms

  • 召— to summon
  • 征— to levy; to campaign (simplified form)
  • 集— to collect

Antonyms

  • 免— to exempt
  • 遣— to dismiss

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The government imposed a tax levy (徵税).
  • This serves as evidence (徵证) in the case.
  • He was conscripted into military service (徵兵).
  • The character appears in the name of the Forbidden City's Meridian Gate (午门, originally 午徵门 in some contexts).
  • It represents the 'Zhi' note in traditional Chinese music (徵音).

Collocations

  • Levy taxes(徵税)
  • Military conscription(徵兵)
  • Seek opinions(徵求)
  • Characteristic(特徵)
  • Evidence(徵证)
  • Symbol(象徵)

Idioms

  • Seeking talent and enlisting scholars(徵士招贤)
  • Dream of Zhou Gong(周公解梦, originally involving 徵 in some classical texts)
  • The five notes cannot function without each other(五音不全, where 徵 is one note)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • One of the five notes in ancient Chinese pentatonic scale: Gong, Shang, Jiao, Zhi, Yu.
  • Historically used in imperial edicts for summoning officials or conscripting soldiers.
  • Appears in classical texts and names with scholarly or authoritative connotations.

FAQ