重

chóng, zhòng

HSK 2.0Level 4

HSK 3.0Level 4

Definitions

zhòng (adjective) heavy; serious; important

zhòng (verb) to attach importance to

chóng (verb) to repeat; again

chóng (classifier) layer; level

Etymology

Pictograph of a person (亻) carrying a heavy basket (東) on their back.

About

Originally a pictograph of a person (亻) carrying a heavy basket (東) on their back, the character 重 represents the idea of physical weight. Its core meaning is "heavy", which naturally extended to abstract qualities like "important" or "serious". When pronounced with a different tone, it shifts to an adverb meaning "again" or "repeat", used for actions done a second time. Visually, the modern form consists of horizontal strokes intersected by a central vertical line, all resting on a bottom element that resembles the earth radical 土.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Warring States (475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (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 Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这本书很重要。

Zhè běn shū hěn zhòngyào.

This book is very important.

我重新开始工作。

Wǒ chóngxīn kāishǐ gōngzuò.

I start work again.

这是今天的重点。

Zhè shì jīntiān de zhòngdiǎn.

This is today's key point.

请重复你说的话。

Qǐng chóngfù nǐ shuō de huà.

Please repeat what you said.

这个箱子的重量很大。

Zhège xiāngzi de zhòngliàng hěn dà.

The weight of this box is very heavy.

学校重视学生的安全。

Xuéxiào zhòngshì xuéshēng de ānquán.

The school values the students' safety.

他的心情很沉重。

Tā de xīnqíng hěn chénzhòng.

His mood is very heavy.

这两张图片完全重叠。

Zhè liǎng zhāng túpiàn wánquán chóngdié.

These two pictures completely overlap.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 重

Example Words