(shāng) — (verb) to injure, to hurt; (noun) injury, wound

Definition

伤 (shāng) is the simple noun/verb 'injury / to injure' — usually a physical wound, broader than 伤口 (a specific cut). Pairs with 伤害 and 损伤 for 'harm', both of which extend to emotional or abstract damage.

verb
to injureto hurt
noun
injurywound
Measure word ·

Examples

  • Tā qí chē de shí hou shāng le tuǐ.
    He hurt his leg while riding a bike.
  • Nǐ de shāng yào hǎo hǎo chǔ lǐ.
    You need to take good care of your wound.
  • Yòng dāo de shí hou bié shāng le shǒu.
    Don't cut your hand when using a knife.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 傷; 伤 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
Sound part声符shēngfú
𥏻
𥏻𥏻shāng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 傷 shows 人, a person, and uses 𥏻 to give the sound; the simplified 伤 is a later shorthand.

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