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仉 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
仉zhǎngsurname Zhangunknown, 4 strokes, radical 亻
仉zhǎngmother; surname of the mother of Menciusnr, 4 strokes, radical 亻
zhǎng(Zhang3) T3
  1. 1surname Zhang
  2. 2mother; surname of the mother of Mencius
Also a Chinese surname, Zhang — see the Surname Dictionary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

仉zhǎng(Zhang3)

仉 (zhǎng) is a character that primarily refers to 'mother,' specifically in the context of familial relationships. It is also a surname associated with the mother of the ancient philosopher Mencius, and can sometimes be used as a surname in modern contexts. Although it may not be frequently used in everyday conversation, understanding its historical significance can be beneficial for learners interested in classical texts.

Strokes4Radical亻
Cultural Note

仉's connection to Mencius, a key figure in Confucian philosophy, highlights the importance of maternal influence in Chinese culture. His mother, known for her dedication to education, is often cited in discussions about filial piety and the role of women in family life.

Memory Tip

Imagine a nurturing mother (仉) sheltering her children under her arms, symbolized by the character's structure. The left side resembles a person, while the right side conveys a sense of protection and care. The pronunciation 'zhǎng' can be associated with the word 'long' in English, as a mother often wishes for her child's long and prosperous life.

Meanings of 仉

zhǎng(Zhang3)
1mother; surname of the mother of Mencius
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 仉

仉Simplified
4Strokes
亻Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 仉

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Podcast: 仉

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AI Study Notes for 仉

Usage Notes

仉 is rarely used in modern spoken Chinese, primarily appearing in historical or literary contexts. It's important to note that when referring to mothers in casual conversation, the more common word 母亲 (mǔqīn) is preferred. Be cautious with the tone; 'zhǎng' is pronounced with a falling-rising tone, which can be confused with similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

Although 仉 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it can be a useful addition for learners interested in classical literature. Students should focus on understanding its historical context and how it differs from more commonly used terms related to family.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 仉 with more common terms for 'mother,' mistakenly using it in everyday conversation. For example, saying '仉' instead of '妈妈' (māmā) when referring to one's mother would be incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 仉

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Etymology of 仉

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 仉

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

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Decomposition of 仉

IDS Structure⿰亻几
仉Full Character
=
亻ren2
left
几ji1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 仉?

How to say surname Zhang in Chinese

“surname Zhang” in Chinese is仉zhǎng

仉 (zhǎng) is a character that primarily refers to 'mother,' specifically in the context of familial relationships. It is also a surname associated with the mother of the ancient philosopher Mencius, and can sometimes be used as a surname in modern contexts. Although it may not be frequently used in everyday conversation, understanding its historical significance can be beneficial for learners interested in classical texts.

When to use 仉

仉 is rarely used in modern spoken Chinese, primarily appearing in historical or literary contexts. It's important to note that when referring to mothers in casual conversation, the more common word 母亲 (mǔqīn) is preferred. Be cautious with the tone; 'zhǎng' is pronounced with a falling-rising tone, which can be confused with similar-sounding words.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 仉 with more common terms for 'mother,' mistakenly using it in everyday conversation. For example, saying '仉' instead of '妈妈' (māmā) when referring to one's mother would be incorrect.

Write 仉

仉

Practice writing 仉 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 仉

Words Containing This Character1
仉zhǎngsurname Zhang
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 仉 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 仉

仉 primarily means 'mother' and is associated with the surname of Mencius's mother.

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