长

長

cháng, zhǎng

HSK 3.0Level 2

Definitions

cháng (adjective) long; length

zhǎng (verb) to grow; to develop

zhǎng (noun) chief; leader

Etymology

Pictograph of an old person with long hair using a cane to walk. The simplified character 长 was adapted from the cursive form of the traditional character 長.

About

长 has two distinct pronunciations and related meanings: cháng (adjective, "long") and zhǎng (verb, "to grow", also "elder" or "leader"). The traditional form 長 originated as a pictograph of an elderly person with long hair and a walking stick, visually connecting long hair to aging and growth. From physical length, the meaning extended to temporal length (long periods of time), while the idea of aging and maturity gave rise to the sense of seniority or authority. The simplified character 长 was adapted from the cursive script of 長, streamlining the strokes and removing the explicit hair and figure imagery, but it preserves both pronunciations and their associated meanings in modern usage.

Etymology Hide

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这条河很长。

Zhè tiáo hé hěn cháng.

This river is very long.

他的头发长得很快。

Tā de tóufa zhǎng de hěn kuài.

His hair grows very fast.

长城是中国著名的古迹。

Chángchéng shì Zhōngguó zhùmíng de gǔjī.

The Great Wall is a famous historical site in China.

孩子们在健康成长。

Háizimen zài jiànkāng zhǎng.

The children are growing up healthily.

长时间工作对身体不好。

Cháng shíjiān gōngzuò duì shēntǐ bù hǎo.

Working for long periods is not good for health.

校长在会议上发表了讲话。

Xiàozhǎng zài huìyì shàng fābiǎo le jiǎnghuà.

The school principal gave a speech at the meeting.

她的艺术生涯长达三十年。

Tā de yìshù shēngyá cháng dá sānshí nián.

Her artistic career spans up to thirty years.

经济发展是市长长期关注的重点。

Jīngjì fāzhǎn shì shìzhǎng chángqī guānzhù de zhòngdiǎn.

Economic development is a long-term focus of the mayor.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 长

长