Definitions

zhāng (noun) chapter; section; article
zhāng (noun) seal; badge
zhāng (noun) regulation; order

Etymology

Possibly depicts using a blade () to engrave a block of jade. Based on the original meaning "jade ornament", now written as . Later the meaning shifted to "seal" and "chapter".

About

The character "章" initially denoted a complete musical movement, with its etymological construction combining 音 for sound and 十 for completion to signal a distinct auditory segment. In its contemporary structure, it is composed of 立 and 早, which visually suggest something established and early, though this form diverges from its original components. Over centuries, its semantic scope broadened from musical sections to textual chapters, and subsequently to encompass formal documents, official seals, and established regulations, reflecting an expansion from auditory to literary and administrative domains.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 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 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

这篇文很精彩。

Zhè piān wénzhāng hěn jīngcǎi.

This article is wonderful.

他写了三小说。

Tā xiě le sān zhāng xiǎoshuō.

He wrote three chapters of a novel.

学校有新的程。

Xuéxiào yǒu xīn de zhāngchéng.

The school has new regulations.

她的奖很漂亮。

Tā de jiǎngzhāng hěn piàoliang.

Her medal is very beautiful.

鱼生活在海洋里。

Zhāngyú shēnghuó zài hǎiyáng lǐ.

Octopuses live in the ocean.

这篇文法很乱。

Zhè piān wénzhāng de zhāngfǎ hěn luàn.

The structure of this article is messy.

我们需要遵守公司程。

Wǒmen xūyào zūnshǒu gōngsī zhāngchéng.

We need to comply with the company's regulations.

他正在研究古代印的历史。

Tā zhèngzài yánjiū gǔdài yìnzhāng de lìshǐ.

He is studying the history of ancient seals.