Definitions

tāng (noun) soup; hot water; broth
shāng (noun) rushing water; current

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "汤", traditionally written as "湯", etymologically combines the water radical with a component that phonetically and semantically suggests heat, originally referring specifically to hot water or boiling liquid. Its structural composition highlights this early meaning, with the liquid element reinforced by the associative warmth implied by the right-hand element, leading to a classical usage centered on heated liquids. Over time, the semantic scope widened from mere hot water to encompass various kinds of soups and broths, marking a shift from a general temperature-based definition to a more specific culinary application. The simplified form "汤" retains the water radical while altering the phonetic component, yet the character's fundamental link to liquid sustenance has remained consistent throughout its linguistic evolution.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Warring States (475-221 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)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

味道很好。

Zhè tāng wèidào hěn hǎo.

This soup tastes very good.

我想喝一碗热

Wǒ xiǎng hē yī wǎn rè tāng.

I want to drink a bowl of hot soup.

妈妈做的很鲜美。

Māmā zuò de tāng hěn xiānměi.

The soup my mom made is very delicious.

番茄的营养很丰富。

Fānqié tāng de yíngyǎng hěn fēngfù.

Tomato soup is very nutritious.

太烫了,等会儿再喝。

Tāng tài tàng le, děnghuìr zài hē.

The soup is too hot, I'll drink it later.

这锅需要慢火炖两小时。

Zhè guō tāng xūyào mànhuǒ dùn liǎng xiǎoshí.

This pot of soup needs to be simmered on low heat for two hours.

是中国的传统饮食习惯。

Hē tāng shì Zhōngguó de chuántǒng yǐnshí xíguàn.

Drinking soup is a traditional Chinese dietary habit.

时要注意食材的搭配和火候。

Zuò tāng shí yào zhùyì shícái de dāpèi hé huǒhòu.

When making soup, you need to pay attention to the combination of ingredients and the heat control.