众

眾/衆

zhòng

人 + 从

Definitions

zhòng (adjective) many; numerous

zhòng (noun) crowd; multitude

Etymology

Triple of 人 (person), depicts many people together. Simplified form of 眾.

About

The simplified character 众 is an ideogram composed of three 人 (person) elements arranged in a pyramid, signifying a crowd, multitude, or the masses. Its traditional equivalent, 眾, is structurally more complex: the eye radical 罒 sits above a component that serves as both phonetic and semantic indicator, meaning many people, and together they suggest a gathering beneath a watchful eye. The simplified version does away with this layered phonosemantic structure, returning to a purely visual logic where the threefold repetition of the human figure communicates a large assembly.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

众人看着我。

Zhòng rén kàn zhe wǒ.

The crowd is looking at me.

众多游客来参观。

Zhòng duō yóu kè lái cān guān.

Many tourists come to visit.

他的表演吸引了众多观众。

Tā de biǎo yǎn xī yǐn le zhòng duō guān zhòng.

His performance attracted a large audience.

这本小说深受大众喜爱。

Zhè běn xiǎo shuō shēn shòu dà zhòng xǐ ài.

This novel is deeply loved by the public.

关于这个方案，众人意见不一。

Guān yú zhè gè fāng àn, zhòng rén yì jiàn bù yī.

Regarding this plan, people have different opinions.

我们必须考虑大多数民众的需求。

Wǒ men bì xū kǎo lǜ dà duō shù mín zhòng de xū qiú.

We must consider the needs of the majority of the people.

这项政策的调整引起了舆论的众怒。

Zhè xiàng zhèng cè de tiáo zhěng yǐn qǐ le yú lùn de zhòng nù.

The adjustment of this policy has aroused public outrage.

众说纷纭的观点让决策者难以统一意见。

Zhòng shuō fēn yún de guān diǎn ràng jué cè zhě nán yǐ tǒng yī yì jiàn.

The diverse opinions make it difficult for decision-makers to reach a consensus.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 人

Component: 从

Example Words