Definitions

shāng (verb) to injure; to wound; to harm
shāng (noun) wound; injury

Etymology

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

About

The traditional character 傷 is composed of the radical 人 (person) on the left, indicating its association with human conditions, and the phonetic component 昜 (yáng) on the right, which originally suggested light or elevation but here primarily serves a sound function. Its core meaning historically pertained to physical wounding or harm inflicted upon the body. Over time, this concrete sense expanded to encompass psychological or emotional hurt, such as grief or sorrow, allowing the character to describe both tangible and intangible injuries. The simplified form 伤 replaced the complex phonetic component 昜 with 丿 and 力, creating a new, simpler graphical structure while retaining the essential semantic field of harm or injury associated with the person radical.

Etymology Hide

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 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

我的口很疼。

Wǒ de shāngkǒu hěn téng.

My wound hurts a lot.

他不小心受了。

Tā bù xiǎoxīn shòushāng le.

He got injured accidentally.

害小动物。

Bié shānghài xiǎo dòngwù.

Do not harm small animals.

这件事让我很心。

Zhè jiàn shì ràng wǒ hěn shāngxīn.

This matter makes me very sad.

医生治疗了他的

Yīshēng zhìliáo le tā de shāng.

The doctor treated his injury.

的情绪很难控制。

Bēishāng de qíngxù hěn nán kòngzhì.

Sad emotions are very difficult to control.

这次事故造成多人受

Zhè cì shìgù zàochéng duō rén shòushāng.

This accident caused many people to be injured.

过度运动容易损肌肉。

Guòdù yùndòng róngyì sǔnshāng jīròu.

Excessive exercise can easily damage muscles.