承

chéng

Definitions

chéng (verb) to undertake; to carry; to bear; to take charge

chéng (particle) owing to; due to

Etymology

Pictograph of hands (廾, 手) carrying a person.

About

The character 承 visually depicts hands carefully receiving or supporting an object from below, establishing its core meaning of undertaking, bearing, or accepting. This foundational image of physical support extended to abstract concepts like inheriting a legacy, receiving instructions, and carrying forward traditions, making it central to expressing continuity and formal succession.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

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 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 Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他承认了自己的错误。

Tā chéngrèn le zìjǐ de cuòwù.

He admitted his mistake.

他承担了所有责任。

Tā chéngdān le suǒyǒu zérèn.

He took on all the responsibility.

她承受着巨大压力。

Tā chéngshòu zhe jùdà yālì.

She is enduring great pressure.

他继承了父亲的生意。

Tā jìchéng le fùqīn de shēngyì.

He inherited his father's business.

他承诺明天会来。

Tā chéngnuò míngtiān huì lái.

He promised to come tomorrow.

公司承办了这次会议。

Gōngsī chéngbàn le zhè cì huìyì.

The company organized this meeting.

他们承接了新的工程项目。

Tāmen chéngjiē le xīn de gōngchéng xiàngmù.

They took on a new engineering project.

这座桥的承重能力很强。

Zhè zuò qiáo de chéngzhòng nénglì hěn qiáng.

This bridge has strong load-bearing capacity.

Example Words