Definitions

Sòng (noun) Song dynasty (960-1279)
Sòng (noun) Southern Song dynasty (420-479)

Etymology

Depicts a building () made of wood (). Based on the original meaning "dwelling". The current meaning is a phonetic loan.

About

The character "宋" structurally combines the roof radical 宀 with the tree component 木, suggesting a wooden dwelling or a place associated with timber, which aligns with its earliest known use as the name for the ancient state of Song during the Zhou dynasty. From this geographic and political origin, the term evolved to become a hereditary surname for descendants connected to that territory, while later historical adoption as the title for the Song dynasty further expanded its referential scope. This shift from a specific place name to a dynastic identifier and a common surname demonstrates how the character's meaning has been adapted over time, maintaining its core structural integrity while accumulating layered historical and cultural connotations.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 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)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

先生今天来了。

Sòng xiānsheng jīntiān lái le.

Mr. Song came today.

我喜欢朝的历史。

Wǒ xǐhuān Sòng cháo de lìshǐ.

I like the history of the Song dynasty.

词是中国文学的瑰宝。

Sòng cí shì Zhōngguó wénxué de guībǎo.

Song poetry is a treasure of Chinese literature.

这本书讲述了朝的故事。

Zhè běn shū jiǎngshù le Sòng cháo de gùshì.

This book tells the story of the Song dynasty.

叔叔是我爸爸的好朋友。

Sòng shūshu shì wǒ bàba de hǎo péngyou.

Uncle Song is my father's good friend.

我们在博物馆看到了朝的瓷器。

Wǒmen zài bówùguǎn kàn dào le Sòng cháo de cíqì.

We saw Song dynasty porcelain at the museum.

体字是中文印刷中常用的字体。

Sòngtǐ zì shì Zhōngwén yìnshuā zhōng chángyòng de zìtǐ.

Song typeface is a commonly used font in Chinese printing.

研究人员正在深入研究朝的经济制度。

Yánjiū rényuán zhèngzài shēnrù yánjiū Sòng cháo de jīngjì zhìdù.

Researchers are deeply studying the economic system of the Song dynasty.