Definitions

tóng (noun) copper; bronze

Etymology

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

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "铜" for copper originated as a phono-semantic compound, where the metal radical indicated its semantic field and the component "同" provided phonetic approximation, a structure visible in the traditional form "銅" with its radical "金". While the character's primary meaning has consistently referred to the metal copper, its usage broadened in historical contexts to encompass copper-based artifacts and the descriptive term for a copper-like color. Although the graphical representation of the metal component has undergone modification over time, the essential relationship between the character's meaning and its phonetic element has been maintained throughout its evolution.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 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 Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我家有一个锅。

Wǒ jiā yǒu yī gè tóng guō.

My family has a copper pot.

常用于制作电线。

Tóng cháng yòng yú zhìzuò diànxiàn.

Copper is often used to make wires.

这尊像非常古老。

Zhè zūn tóngxiàng fēicháng gǔlǎo.

This bronze statue is very old.

古代人们使用钱交易。

Gǔdài rénmen shǐyòng tóngqián jiāoyì.

In ancient times, people used copper coins for trade.

的导电性比铁好得多。

Tóng de dǎodiàn xìng bǐ tiě hǎo dé duō.

Copper's electrical conductivity is much better than iron's.

这个地区富含矿资源。

Zhège dìqū fùhán tóngkuàng zīyuán.

This region is rich in copper ore resources.

由于价上涨,生产成本增加了。

Yóuyú tóngjià shàngzhǎng, shēngchǎn chéngběn zēngjiā le.

Due to the rise in copper prices, production costs have increased.

工程师们正在研究如何回收废旧材。

Gōngchéngshī men zhèngzài yánjiū rúhé huíshōu fèijiù tóng cái.

Engineers are researching how to recycle waste copper materials.