Definitions
(adjective)
same; identical; similar
(preposition)
together; with
Etymology
Depicts a large object (凡) like a shoulder carriage that requires the cooperation of multiple people working together to carry.
About
The character "同" originates from an early pictographic concept of a lid covering a container, conveying the idea of enclosure or gathering through its structural combination of a cover element and an opening. Initially representing physical assembly or convergence, its meaning progressively extended to abstract dimensions, encompassing notions of similarity, shared conditions, and mutual agreement, which now define its modern interpretations as "same", "together", or "with". This semantic expansion, while the character's form has persisted without alteration, illustrates a transition from tangible representation to wider linguistic functions within Chinese.
Example Sentences Hide
我们同班。
他和我是同乡。
我同意你的看法。
请大家同时开始。
这两个问题性质不同。
他们共同完成了这个项目。
我对他的遭遇深表同情。
经济发展应与环境保护同步。