证明 zhèngmíng proof
proof; testify; confirm; certificate
How to remember 证明: 证 prove + 明 bright = proof.
Characters
How it is used
- To prove/demonstrate - 事实证明他是对的 (shìshí zhèngmíng tā shì duì de) the facts proved him right; also a noun 'certificate/proof' - 收入证明 (shōurù zhèngmíng) proof of income.
- Contrast 说明 (shuōmíng, to show/indicate) - 证明 establishes truth with evidence; 说明 merely indicates or explains.
- The noun sense (a document) is very common in bureaucracy: 出生证明 (chūshēng zhèngmíng) birth certificate.
Example sentences
- 你无法证明。 Nǐ wúfǎ zhèngmíng.You can't prove that.
- 我会给你证明的。 Wǒhuì gěi nǐ zhèngmíng de.I'll prove it to you.
- 电脑记录证明了我的想法是对的。 Diànnǎo jìlù zhèngmíngle wǒ de xiǎngfa shì duì de.The computer records prove that my ideas were correct.