乘

椉
chéng, shèng
北 + 禾
HSK 2.0Level 6
HSK 3.0Level 4

Definitions

chéng (verb) to ride; to mount
chéng (verb) to make use of; to take advantage of
chéng (verb) to multiply

Etymology

Depicts a person (人) who has climbed up a tree (木).

About

乘 (chéng) originally depicted a person (人) climbing a tree (木). In its modern form, it combines 禾 (grain) with 北 (opposing backs or directions) and 木 (tree). The core sense of mounting an elevated place broadened to riding a chariot, horse, or vehicle, and it also served as the specific noun for a four-horse military chariot. It later became the standard term for the operation of multiplication.

Example Sentences Hide

我乘公交车去学校。

Wǒ chéng gōngjiāo chē qù xuéxiào.

I take the bus to school.

我们乘坐飞机去旅行。

Wǒmen chéngzuò fējī qù lǚxíng.

We travel by plane.

三乘以四等于十二。

Sān chéng yǐ sì děngyú shí'èr.

Three multiplied by four equals twelve.

他乘机提出了自己的要求。

Tā chéngjī tíchūle zìjǐ de yāoqiú.

He seized the opportunity to make his request.

夏天我们喜欢在树下乘凉。

Xiàtiān wǒmen xǐhuān zài shù xià chéngliáng.

In summer, we like to enjoy the cool under the tree.

比赛获胜后，他们决定乘胜追击。

Bǐsài huòshèng hòu, tāmen juédìng chéngshèngzhuījī.

After winning the match, they decided to follow up the victory with hot pursuit.

那位乘务员的服务非常周到。

Nà wèi chéngwùyuán de fúwù fēichīng zhōudào.

That flight attendant's service is very thorough.

公司正乘风破浪，开拓新的市场。

Gōngsī zhèng chéngfēngpòlàng, kāituò xīn de shìchǎng.

The company is riding the wind and waves to explore new markets.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

剩 嵊

Component: 北

背 燕 乖 冀 邶 丠 兠 埀 鉳 鷰

Component: 禾

和 种 利 科 程 称 委 积 香 税 移 秘 私 稳

Example Words

乘坐 乘客 上乘 乘务员 乘机 乘法 乘车 乘风 大乘 换乘 搭乘 空乘 乘人之危 乘以 乘务 乘胜 乘胜追击 乘势 乘搭 乘数 乘法表 乘凉 乘火打劫 乘积