Pinyin "zheng4"

In MandarinBanana's mnemonic system, the Pinyin syllable "zheng4" is split up into two parts: "zh" and "(e)ng4". You can visit the Pinyin index to see how other Pinyin syllables are split up into initials and finals.

Mnemonics for Pinyin initial "zh"

Zh is for James II of England (詹姆斯二世, zhān​mǔ​sī èr​shì).

Mnemonics for Pinyin final "(e)ng4"

In the engine's bathroom.

Characters pronounced zheng4

正
zhèng = zh + (e)ng4
straight / upright / proper / main / principal / to correct / to rectify / exactly / just (at that time) / right (in that place) / (math.) positive
正 = 一 + 止 : Mnemonic symbol: a stick-figure with straight lines. James II of England (zh) really has to use the engine's bathroom ((e)ng4), but there's a stick-figure (正) blocking the stalls with a barrier (止). The stick-figure measures with a flute (一) whether James is tall enough to go. James stands very straight (正) to make himself as tall as possible.
证
証
zhèng = zh + (e)ng4
to admonish / variant of 證|证[zheng4]
证
證
zhèng = zh + (e)ng4
certificate / proof / to prove / to demonstrate / to confirm / variant of 症[zheng4]
证 = 正 + 讠 : James II of England (zh) is not allowed to stay any longer in the engine, so in the bathroom ((e)ng4) he forges a visa (证) so he can stay. On an advertising column (讠) he scribbles his fake visa, but (like me) he sucks at drawing, so he is only able to draw a stick figure (正) where his photo should go.
政
zhèng = zh + (e)ng4
political / politics / government
政 = 攵 + 正 : As James II of England (zh) became a powerful politician (政) he used his power for many crazy laws. For example, he once ordered a stick figure (正) to tear down the engine's bathroom ((e)ng4) using a sledgehammer (攵).
挣
掙
zhèng = zh + (e)ng4
to struggle to get free / to strive to acquire / to make (money)
挣 = 争 + 扌 : The grim reaper (争) comes to the engine's bathroom ((e)ng4) to take James II of England (zh) with him. James II of England struggles (挣) to get free, but the grim reaper tightly grabs his back with a toy claw (扌).
症
zhèng = zh + (e)ng4
disease / illness
症 = 正 + 疒 : The stick figure (正) is visiting James II of England (zh) in the engine's bathroom ((e)ng4) to have him investigate his colorful rash (疒). Unfortunately James II of England has to tell him that he has cancer (症).
郑
鄭
zhèng = zh + (e)ng4
Zheng state during the Warring States period / surname Zheng / abbr. for 鄭州|郑州[Zheng4 zhou1]
郑 = 关 + 阝 : James II of England (zh) and Zheng He (郑) agreed to build a pipeline (郑) connecting their nations, but it runs through the engine's bathroom ((e)ng4). The emperor (阝) is very annoyed by the pipeline and every time he visits the bathroom he'll push its off button (关).
郑
鄭
zhèng = zh + (e)ng4
bound form used in 鄭重|郑重[zheng4 zhong4] and 雅鄭|雅郑[ya3 zheng4]
诤
諍
zhèng = zh + (e)ng4
to admonish / to warn sb of their errors / to criticize frankly / Taiwan pr. [zheng1]
怔
zhèng = zh + (e)ng4
stumped for words / to stare blankly