倘 (cháng) — (literary conjunction) if, supposing, in case

Definition

Literary conditional 'if/supposing', found mostly in writing. Contrast with 如果 (everyday 'if'); 倘 sounds formal and bookish, rarely spoken.

conjunction

(literary conjunction) ifsupposingin case

Easily confused

倘，。
cháng Nǐ míng tiān bù lái, qǐng tí qián tōng zhī wǒ.
If you don't come tomorrow, please let me know in advance.
倘，。
cháng Yǒu kùn nan, suí shí kě yǐ zhǎo wǒ bāng máng.
If you have any difficulties, feel free to ask me for help.
倘，。
cháng Tā tóng yì, wǒ men jiù àn jì huà jìn xíng.
If he agrees, we'll proceed according to plan.

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.

亻尚倘

Meaning part形符xíngfú

亻Written in full as人rénperson

Sound part声符shēngfú

尚

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

倘 has 亻, a form of 人 meaning person, and 尚, which gives the sound shàng.