正负 zhèngfù

1. positive and negative
2. plus-minus

These meanings come from the same dictionary that powers the Chinese to Pinyin translator and the Chinese to English translator, so a whole sentence containing 正负 will read it the same way this page does.

正负 is written with 2 characters. Chinese words are usually easier to remember once you can see what each part contributes.

These are also written zhengfu without tone marks. Tones and context are what keep them apart — which is why the tone is part of the word, not an accent on it.

Train the difference in the Tone Trainer or the Similar Sounds Quiz.

What does 正负 mean in English?

正负 is pronounced zhèngfù and means positive and negative, plus-minus.

How do you pronounce 正负?

正负 is zhèngfù in pinyin — written zhengfu without tone marks. Press the audio button on this page to hear it spoken by a native voice.

What are the characters in 正负?

正负 is written with 2 characters: 正 (zhèng) Straight (main - right - just - pure - regular - principle - directly), 负 (fù) Lose (carry - to bear - negative number). Knowing the parts is usually how the whole word becomes memorable.

How is 正负 written in traditional Chinese?

正負. The simplified form 正负 is used in mainland China and Singapore; 正負 is used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. Both are pronounced zhèngfù.

Is 正负 an HSK word?

Yes — 正负 is on the official HSK 6 vocabulary list. You can study it with the rest of that list on the HSK 6 page.