verb HSK 5
zhēng
to conquer · to subdue · to overcome

Meaning

征服 means to conquer or overcome something through force, effort, or skill. It can refer to military conquest of territories, overcoming challenges or difficulties, or winning someone's heart or admiration. The word combines 征 (to go on an expedition) and 服 (to submit/subdue).

Usage

Used in both literal contexts (conquering lands, enemies) and figurative contexts (conquering fears, challenges, or winning someone over). Common in formal writing, news, and literature. Often appears with objects like 世界 (world), 困难 (difficulties), 高峰 (peaks), or 人心 (people's hearts).

Examples

  1. 01
    他用他的才华征服了所有的观众。
    yòng de cái huá zhēng le suǒ yǒu de guān zhòng.
    He conquered all the audience with his talent.
  2. 02
    登山队成功征服了这座高峰。
    Dēng shān duì chéng gōng zhēng le zhè zuò gāo fēng.
    The mountaineering team successfully conquered this peak.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 征服世界
    zhēng shì jiè
    to conquer the world
  • 征服困难
    zhēng kùn nán
    to overcome difficulties
  • 征服人心
    zhēng rén xīn
    to win people's hearts
  • 征服
    zhēng zhě
    conqueror

Antonyms

Origin

The word combines征 (征伐, military expedition) with 服 (使服从, to make submit), creating the meaning of forcing submission through military or other means.

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