About
The character 撑 is a phono-semantic compound with the 扌 (hand) radical on the left, indicating an action involving the hands or arms, and the phonetic component 掌 (zhǎng) on the right. In traditional or variant forms, it appears as 撐, using the phonetic element 牚 (chēng) while retaining the hand radical. Its core meaning involves physical support, such as propping something up, bracing against pressure, or pushing with a pole like punting a boat. This sense later extended metaphorically to describe enduring hardships, sustaining a business, or maintaining appearances despite difficulties.
Example Sentences Hide
我撑不住了。
他撑开了雨伞。
她在门口撑伞。
因为下雨，他撑起了伞。
他努力撑过困难时期。
这根柱子支撑着屋顶。
虽然很累，但他还是撑到了终点。
政府的政策撑起了经济的复苏。