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州长 (zhōu zhǎng) — governor of a state (in the USA); governor of a zhōu (historical Chinese administrative division)

Definition

In modern Chinese news, 州长 almost always means a U.S. state governor. The historical 'governor of a zhōu' sense is a legacy definition; learners will only meet this word in current-affairs contexts.

noun
governor of a state (in the USA)governor of a zhōu (historical Chinese administrative division)
Measure word · 位

Examples

  • 州长。
    Zhè ge zhōu de zhōu zhǎng hěn yǒu míng.
    The governor of this state is very famous.
  • 州长。
    Táng dài de zhōu zhǎng quán lì hěn dà.
    Governors during the Tang dynasty had great power.
  • 州长。
    Xīn zhōu zhǎng shàng rèn hòu tuī xíng le hěn duō gǎi gé.
    After the new governor took office, he implemented many reforms.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

州zhōuregion; state
长chángchief; leader

'州' is a region and '长' is its chief, giving the leader of a state.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

州 originally drew an islet in a river.

Open 州 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 長; 长 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 長 pictures an old man with long hair. The simplified 长 is a later shorthand, so its strokes do not show that original picture.

Open 长 →
Appears in
Government & Politics5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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