撑

撐
chēng
扌 + 掌
HSK 3.0Level 6

Definitions

chēng (verb) to prop up; to support
chēng (verb) to push or move with a pole
chēng (verb) to fill to bursting point

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 掌 represents the sound. Simplified form of 撐.

Semantic: 扌 Phonetic: 掌

About

撑 is a phono-semantic compound made up of the hand radical 扌 and the phonetic 掌 (zhǎng). The hand radical indicates that the character's meaning involves actions done with the hands. 撑 is the simplified form of the traditional character 撐, which uses 牚 (chēng) for its sound but keeps the same hand radical. The character's original meaning is physical support: propping something up, bracing against pressure, or pushing with a pole (such as punting a boat). Over time, it extended metaphorically to mean enduring hardship, sustaining a business, or keeping up appearances despite difficulties.

Example Sentences Hide

我撑不住了。

Wǒ chēng bù zhù le.

I can't hold on anymore.

他撑开了雨伞。

Tā chēng kāi le yǔsǎn.

He opened the umbrella.

她在门口撑伞。

Tā zài ménkǒu chēng sǎn.

She holds an umbrella at the door.

因为下雨，他撑起了伞。

Yīnwèi xiàyǔ, tā chēng qǐ le sǎn.

Because it's raining, he opened his umbrella.

他努力撑过困难时期。

Tā nǔlì chēng guò kùnnán shíqī.

He strives to endure through difficult times.

这根柱子支撑着屋顶。

Zhè gēn zhùzi zhīchēng zhe wūdǐng.

This pillar supports the roof.

虽然很累，但他还是撑到了终点。

Suīrán hěn lèi, dàn tā háishì chēng dào le zhōngdiǎn.

Although very tired, he still persevered to the finish line.

政府的政策撑起了经济的复苏。

Zhèngfǔ de zhèngcè chēng qǐ le jīngjì de fùsū.

The government's policies supported the economic recovery.

Related Characters

Component: 扌

把 提 打 报 接 指 据 拉 持 技 找 推 投 护

Component: 掌

罉

Example Words

支撑 俯卧撑 撑伞 撑死 撑开 硬撑 强撑 撑场面 撑杆 撑破 撑腰 撑船 撑门面 裙撑