唱 chàng — sing · English

唱

chàng

sing

At a glance · 唱

Listen

Audio is synthesized in your browser: Mandarin for the character and Shuowen text, native voices for every translation. No downloads.

Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

「唱」从口昌声，小篆从口昌声，形声清晰。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「唱」本义为领唱、歌唱，引申倡导（通「倡」）。

Structure

从口、昌声，形声字，口表歌唱义类，昌表音。

At a glance

Pinyinchàng

Radical口

Strokes11

UnicodeU+5531

Character type形声

Theme礼乐

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English sing sing, chant, call; ditty, song

Français chanter / mener Chanter, mener. «夫唱妇随» : le mari initie, la femme suit.

Español cantar / guiar Cantar, guiar. «夫唱妇随»: el marido inicia, la mujer sigue.

العربية يغني / يقود يغني، يقود. «夫唱妇随»: الزوج يبادر والزوجة تتبع.

Русский петь / вести Петь, вести. «夫唱妇随»: муж начинает, жена следует.

Common words

唱歌chàng gēsing
唱chàngsing

◉ Listen