证明 (zhèngmíng)

证明 means to prove or verify something using evidence or reasoning. As a noun it refers to a proof, a piece of evidence, or an official certificate (such as an employment certificate or medical certificate).

Meanings

[verb] To prove; to demonstrate; to verify.
[noun] Proof; evidence; certificate; certification.

Example Sentences

科学家用实验证明了这个理论的正确性。 Kēxuéjiā yòng shíyàn zhèngmíng le zhège lǐlùn de zhèngquè xìng. Scientists used experiments to prove the correctness of this theory.

你需要提供一份工作证明才能办理这项业务。 Nǐ xūyào tígōng yī fèn gōngzuò zhèngmíng cái néng bànlǐ zhè xiàng yèwù. You need to provide an employment certificate to handle this matter.

他的行动证明他是一个值得信赖的人。 Tā de xíngdòng zhèngmíng tā shì yīgè zhídé xìnlài de rén. His actions prove that he is a trustworthy person.

请出示居住证明才可以登记。 Qǐng chūshì jūzhù zhèngmíng cái kěyǐ dēngjì. Please present proof of residence before you can register.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
证明书	certificate; written proof
工作证明	employment certificate
身份证明	proof of identity
证明材料	supporting documents
无法证明	unable to prove

Usage Notes

As a noun, 证明 is very commonly used in bureaucratic and official contexts in China where people must submit various certificates: 收入证明 (income certificate), 无犯罪记录证明 (no-criminal-record certificate). As a verb, it often follows the pattern X 证明 Y, meaning "X proves Y," which is useful for both logical arguments and factual statements.

Memory Hook

证 contains the speech radical 讠 and the character for "straight" (正), meaning a straight, official statement. 明 means clear. To 证明 is to make an official, clear statement of truth backed by evidence.