钟 zhōng — clock · English

钟

zhōng

clock

At a glance · 钟

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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、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

「钟」繁体「鍾/鐘」从金重声（鐘），小篆从金鍾声。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「钟」本为乐器（鐘）或量器（鍾），引申钟表、钟情。

Structure

从金、重(鍾)声，形声字，金表金属义类，本为钟类。简作钟。

At a glance

Pinyinzhōng

Radical钅

Strokes9

UnicodeU+949F

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 clock clock; bell

Français cloche / Zhong Yao Cloche ; Zhong Yao (calligraphe). «杜稿钟隶» : la écriture li de Zhong.

Español campana / Zhong Yao Campana; Zhong Yao (calígrafo). «杜稿钟隶»: el estilo li de Zhong.

العربية جرس / تشونغ ياو جرس؛ تشونغ ياو (خطاط). «杜稿钟隶»: الخط اللي لتشونغ.

Русский колокол / Чжун Яо Колокол; Чжун Яо (каллиграф). «杜稿钟隶»: стиль ли Чжуна.

Common words

钟zhōngbell/surname
时钟shí zhōngclock

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