Definitions

tāng a kind of farm tool

Etymology phono-semantic

plow

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character is a phono-semantic compound that names both a traditional farming tool and the action of using it. The semantic radical (lěi), 'plow', categorizes it within agriculture, while the phonetic (shàng) on the right indicates its pronunciation. It refers to a traditional implement, similar to a harrow or specialized rake, used after the initial plowing to smooth fields, break up clods, and weed. The meaning shifts between the noun for the tool and the verb for leveling and preparing soil for planting.