Mandarin Chinese reference
挣
zhèng
to earn (by working); to break free
Verb pattern · 10 form tables
Mandarin verbs do not change for tense. These tables show aspect, negation, questions and sentence patterns. Short phrases omit the subject; full examples retain theirs.
Audio requires a compatible voice in your browser.
Aspect
Plain statement
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | zhèngearn |
Completed action
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | zhèng leearned |
Experience
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | zhèng guohave earned before |
In progress
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | zài zhèngbe earning |
Future
About to
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | yào zhèng lebe about to earn |
Will / can
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | huì zhèngwill earn |
Negative
Not
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | bú zhèngdo not earn |
Did not
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | méi zhèngdid not earn |
Questions
Yes no question
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | zhèng ma?do you earn? |
A not A question
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | zhèng bu zhèng?do you earn? |
Forms from the Loquus reference. Only supplied forms are shown. Browse all Mandarin Chinese entries.