充

chōng

儿 + 𠫓

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

chōng (verb) to fill; to fulfill

chōng (verb) to substitute; to act in place of

chōng (adjective) full; sufficient

Etymology

Pictograph of an adult person with a hairpin in their hair, indicating being fully grown up into adulthood. In ancient China, adults usually wore a hairpin. Similar in origin to 每.

About

充 is composed of 亠 (a lid or covering) placed over 允 (fair, to permit). These components are later abstractions of an ancient pictograph showing an adult person with a hairpin, a sign of coming of age in early China, similar in origin to 每. Because adulthood represented reaching full physical maturity, the character acquired the sense of something being full or complete. From this came its common meanings: to fill, stuff, or charge; to supply enough to satisfy a need; and to act as a substitute or replacement when something is missing.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

房间里充满阳光。

Fángjiān lǐ chōngmǎn yángguāng.

The room is filled with sunlight.

我需要给手机充电。

Wǒ xūyào gěi shǒujī chōngdiàn.

I need to charge my phone.

我们有充足的时间。

Wǒmen yǒu chōngzú de shíjiān.

We have sufficient time.

他充当了我们的向导。

Tā chōngdāngle wǒmen de xiàngdǎo.

He acted as our guide.

这本书内容很充实。

Zhè běn shū nèiróng hěn chōngshí.

This book has substantial content.

我们必须充分利用资源。

Wǒmen bìxū chōngfèn lìyòng zīyuán.

We must make full use of resources.

公司计划扩充业务范围。

Gōngsī jìhuà kuòchōng yèwù fànwéi.

The company plans to expand its business scope.

他以志愿者的身份充当代课老师。

Tā yǐ zhìyuànzhě de shēnfèn chōngdāng dàikè lǎoshī.

He serves as a substitute teacher in the capacity of a volunteer.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 儿

Component: 𠫓

充