常
usual, constant
At a glance · 常
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 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.
常字小篆从巾尚声，为形声字；本义为旗帜、常服，引申为平常、经常。甲骨文未见。
What the sketch shows
Origins & notes
常本义为常服、旗帜，引申为平常、经常。
Structure
形声字，上部『巾』为意符，下部『尚』为声符。
At a glance
Pinyincháng
Radical巾
Strokes11
UnicodeU+5E38
Character type形声
Theme其他
Six languages, one character
Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.
English
usual, constant
Chang is a phonetic-semantic character meaning usual and constant.
Français
habituel, constant
Chang est un caractère phonético-sémantique signifiant habituel et constant.
Español
habitual, constante
Chang es un carácter fonosemántico que significa habitual y constante.
العربية
معتاد، دائم
تشانغ حرف صوتي دلالي يعني المعتاد والدائم.
Русский
обычный, постоянный
Чан — фоносемантический знак, означающий обычный и постоянный.
Common words
- 常常cháng chángoften
- 经常jīng chángoften