Definitions

chǎng (noun) factory; plant; workshop

Etymology

Pictograph of a cliff or similarly shaped object. Sometimes used interchangeably with 广 to depict a roof. In simplified Chinese is also used to mean "factory", while in traditional Chinese this meaning is written with a separate character .

About

The character "厂" originated as a pictograph representing a simple cliffside shelter or a ledge overhanging a rock face, providing a basic form of protection from the elements. This core concept of a covered, open-sided structure was later elaborated upon in its traditional form "廠", which incorporated the semantic component "廣" to emphasize breadth and extensive space, shifting its primary meaning to a large building or shed used for workshop or storage purposes. Over time, this sense narrowed specifically to an industrial site or factory, a meaning that became dominant in modern usage. The simplified form "厂", while graphically reverting to the ancient pictograph, no longer carries its original meaning of a natural shelter but instead solely represents this later, industrialized concept of a factory or plant, thus completing a semantic journey from a natural geological feature to a man-made productive facility.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个工很大。

Zhège gōngchǎng hěn dà.

This factory is very big.

爸爸在工上班。

Bàba zài gōngchǎng shàngbān.

Dad works in a factory.

里有很多工人。

Gōngchǎng lǐ yǒu hěnduō gōngrén.

There are many workers in the factory.

这家工生产汽车零件。

Zhè jiā gōngchǎng shēngchǎn qìchē língjiàn.

This factory produces car parts.

房非常宽敞。

Gōngchǎng de chǎngfáng fēichāng kuānchang.

The factory building is very spacious.

家提高了产品质量。

Chǎngjiā tígāole chǎnpǐn zhìliàng.

The manufacturer improved the product quality.

区内的环境需要保护。

Chǎngqū nèi de huánjìng xūyào bǎohù.

The environment within the factory area needs protection.

这家化工采用了先进技术。

Zhè jiā huàgōngchǎng cǎiyòngle xiānjìn jìshù.

This chemical plant adopted advanced technology.