Pinyin "zheng1"

In MandarinBanana's mnemonic system, the Pinyin syllable "zheng1" is split up into two parts: "zh" and "(e)ng1". 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)ng1"

In front of the engine.

Characters pronounced zheng1

正
zhe̅ng = zh + (e)ng1
first month of the lunar year
征
zhe̅ng = zh + (e)ng1
journey / trip / expedition / to go on long campaign / to attack
征
徵
zhe̅ng = zh + (e)ng1
to invite / to recruit / to levy (taxes) / to draft (troops) / phenomenon / symptom / characteristic sign (used as proof) / evidence
征 = 彳 + 正 : James II of England (zh) recruited (征) the stick figure (正) to join him on an expedition (征). Legend has it that an ancient civilization left their black sneakers (彳) in front of the engine ((e)ng1). After they dug up most of the ground they finally find the sneakers.
症
癥
zhe̅ng = zh + (e)ng1
abdominal tumor / bowel obstruction / (fig.) sticking point
争
爭
zhe̅ng = zh + (e)ng1
to strive for / to vie for / to argue or debate / deficient or lacking (dialect) / how or what (literary)
争 = ⺈ + 肀 : Mnemonic symbol: The grim reaper, as 争 is often used in words involving war (...战争). In front of the engine ((e)ng1), the grim reaper (争) marks his next victims in passing. With a crayon (肀) he draws big "X"s on the crane (⺈) and James II of England (zh).
挣
掙
zhe̅ng = zh + (e)ng1
used in 掙扎|挣扎[zheng1 zha2]
筝
箏
zhe̅ng = zh + (e)ng1
guzheng or long zither / long zither with 13 to 16 strings, developed from guqin 古琴 during Tang and Song times / Japanese koto
睁
睜
zhe̅ng = zh + (e)ng1
to open (one's eyes)
睁 = 争 + 目 : The eye of providence (目) dressed like the grim reaper (争) and shocked James II of England (zh) in front of the engine ((e)ng1). Now James doesn't want to open his eyes (睁) so he doesn't have to see the grim reaper. The eye of providence can't even convince him to open his eyes and look at him to see that it was just a prank.
烝
zhe̅ng = zh + (e)ng1
multitudinous / the masses / to present (to sb) / to rise / to advance / to progress / archaic variant of 蒸[zheng1]
烝 = 丞 + 灬 : James II of England (zh) sees it at his task to feed the masses (烝) in front of the engine ((e)ng1). He asks the deputy (丞) what she can do for her country, and without waiting for her answer puts her on a grill (灬).
蒸
zhe̅ng = zh + (e)ng1
to evaporate / (of cooking) to steam / torch made from hemp stalks or bamboo (old) / finely chopped firewood (old)
蒸 = 艹 + 烝 : James II of England's (zh) second attempt at feeding the masses (烝) involves a heap of artificial lawn (艹). In front of the engine ((e)ng1) he cooks it producing a lot of steam (蒸) and making it into a stew.
鲭
鯖
zhe̅ng = zh + (e)ng1
(literary) boiled stew of fish and meat
铮
錚
zhe̅ng = zh + (e)ng1
clang of metals / small gong
峥
崢
zhe̅ng = zh + (e)ng1
excel / lofty