重 (zhòng) — (adjective) heavy; serious; (noun) weight (as in 重量, 举重)
Definition
As an adjective, 重 means 'heavy' (physical weight) and 'serious' (illness, consequences). The noun sense 重量 'weight' and 举重 'weightlifting' are tightly fixed phrases. Compared to 沉重, 重 is plain and neutral; 沉重 adds a 'heavy-hearted' or 'grave' feel.
adjective
heavyserious
noun
weight (as in 重量, 举重)
Examples
- ？Zhè ge xiāng zi de zhòng liàng shì duō shǎo?What is the weight of this box?
- 重，。Tā de bìng hěn zhòng, xū yào mǎ shàng zhù yuàn.His illness is very serious and he needs to be hospitalized immediately.
- 。Jǔ zhòng shì tā de ài hào.Weightlifting is his hobby.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
Sound part声符shēngfú
東
東dōng重zhòng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
重 developed from a picture of a man carrying a bag, with 人 for the man and 東 for the bag; a later ground element was folded into the form.
Appears in
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