(chǎng) — (classifier) used for performances, sports matches, and other public events; (classifier) used for exams and tests

Definition

场 counts events: performances, matches, exams. 场 (chǎng, the classifier) is unrelated to 台 (tái), which counts machines and electronics.

classifier
used for performancessports matchesand other public eventsused for exams and tests

Examples

  • Zhè chǎng diàn yǐng hěn hǎo kàn.
    This movie is very good.
  • Wǒ men kàn le yì chǎng jīng cǎi de bǐ sài.
    We watched a wonderful match.
  • Xià xīng qī yǒu liǎng chǎng kǎo shì.
    There are two exams next week.

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 場; 场 is its simplified writing.

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

The traditional form 場 pairs 土 (earth) with 昜 as a sound part; the simplified 场 is a later abbreviation, so its parts do not have that historical role.

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