张

張

zhāng

弓 + 长

HSK 2.0Level 3

HSK 3.0Level 3

Definitions

zhāng (verb) to open up; to spread

zhāng (noun) sheet; piece of paper

zhāng (classifier) classifier for flat objects and paper

zhāng (noun) proposal

Etymology

Simplified form of 張. Phonosemantic compound. 弓 represents the meaning and 長 represents the sound.

Semantic: 弓 Phonetic: 长

About

张 is the simplified version of 張, a character that combines the semantic component 弓 'bow' with the phonetic component 长 'long' (simplified from 長). Although 长 is primarily the sound element, its meaning 'long' fortuitously reinforces the image. The original meaning was to draw a bowstring back to its full extent, getting ready to release an arrow. From this vivid archery image, the meaning broadened to cover a range of actions: stretching something taut, expanding, spreading open, or displaying something prominently. In modern Chinese, 张 has also become a common measure word for flat, extended objects, paper, tables, beds, reflecting an underlying sense of surface expansion.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

张开你的嘴巴。

Zhāng kāi nǐ de zuǐba.

Open your mouth.

这里有一张桌子。

Zhèlǐ yǒu yì zhāng zhuōzi.

There is a table here.

张老师教我们数学。

Zhāng lǎoshī jiāo wǒmen shùxué.

Teacher Zhang teaches us math.

他紧张地等待着结果。

Tā jǐnzhāng de děngdàizhe jiéguǒ.

He is nervously waiting for the result.

请你帮我张贴这张海报。

Qǐng nǐ bāng wǒ zhāngtiē zhè zhāng hǎibào.

Please help me put up this poster.

张华打算扩张他的生意。

Zhāng Huá dǎsuàn kuòzhāng tā de shēngyì.

Zhang Hua plans to expand his business.

这张地图上的标记很夸张。

Zhè zhāng dìtú shàng de biāojì hěn kuāzhāng.

The markings on this map are very exaggerated.

在紧张的工作之后，他需要舒张一下神经。

Zài jǐnzhāng de gōngzuò zhīhòu, tā xūyào shūzhāng yíxià shénjīng.

After the stressful work, he needs to relax his nerves.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 弓

Component: 长

张