evidence · prove

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The on reading is しょう, and the kun reading is あかし. It has 12 strokes and relates to proof or evidence.
• Basic usage: 証 is read あかし, and 証明 is read しょうめい.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 証 and 証明
  • 証 means proof or token. It is a noun read あかし for proof or a token showing that something is true.
  • 古い傷は困難を乗り越えた証だ。 means “The old scar is proof that I overcame hardship.”
  • 証明 means proof or demonstration. It is read しょうめい and denotes the act or result of establishing a fact or property objectively or logically.
  • 数学の授業で三角形の性質を証明した。 means “In math class, we proved a property of triangles.”