貞 (zhēn) - Chastity, virtue, loyalty, integrity & divination, to divine

貞Tone 1

zhēn ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical:

丈志

貞 · zhēn

Chastity, virtue, loyalty, integrity;

divination, to divine;

firm, steadfast.

Chastity, virtue, loyalty, integritydivination, to divinefirm, steadfast.

Usage highlights

Chastity and integrityTo divineFirm and steadfastAuspicious divinationChaste womanPure and virtuous

Synonyms

  • 节— moral integrity, chastity
  • 洁— purity, cleanliness
  • 忠— loyalty, faithfulness

Antonyms

  • 淫— licentiousness, lewdness
  • 荡— dissolute, loose

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • She was praised for her chastity (贞节).
  • The ancient kings used tortoise shells for divination (贞卜).
  • He is a man of unwavering integrity (坚贞).
  • The divination was considered auspicious (贞祥).

Collocations

  • Chastity and integrity(贞节)
  • To divine(贞卜)
  • Firm and steadfast(坚贞)
  • Auspicious divination(贞祥)
  • Chaste woman(贞女)
  • Pure and virtuous(贞洁)

Idioms

  • Pure as ice and clean as jade(冰清玉洁 - often associated with 贞)
  • Maintain chastity unto death(守贞至死)
  • A loyal heart and righteous gall(忠肝义胆 - conceptually related)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient China, 贞 was a core virtue for women, emphasizing marital fidelity and sexual purity.
  • The character originally related to divination in the Shang dynasty oracle bone scripts.
  • Confucian ethics heavily emphasized 贞 as a fundamental female virtue.
  • The concept evolved from divinatory 'constancy' to moral 'chastity' over time.

FAQ