张
zhāng
张 (zhāng) is the Chinese surname Zhang.
Meaning: Chinese surname (name)
What does it mean word for word?
The character 张 literally means to stretch, to open or to spread.
How do you pronounce it?
zhāng
Did you know?
- The character 张 contains the radical for 'bow', reflecting its historical roots in the act of stretching a bowstring.
- The simplified character 张 was created by replacing the complex components of the traditional version with the much simpler components of the word for 'long', which is 长.
- In Chinese culture, someone with the surname 张 might be jokingly called 张三 'Zhang San'. This is used as a generic placeholder name, similar to 'John Doe' in English.
Examples in context
- 这个故事是老张讲给我听的。It was Lao Zhang that told me this story.This sentence shows how to refer to someone using the form 张 by adding the prefix 老.Tatoeba #2737443 by GlossaMatik, translation #2737505 by eastasiastudent
- 小张人不错！Little Zhang is a good guy!This sentence demonstrates addressing a person using the form 张 with the prefix 小.Tatoeba #1413693 by lingxy, translation #1413694 by lingxy
- 老张买了一件毛衣。Lao Zhang bought a sweater.This sentence uses the form 张 combined with the prefix 老.Tatoeba #1216093 by Takuya, translation #10287779 by LeeSooHa
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two colleagues are discussing a new employee in the office.
- 佳怡 Jiayi新来的员工姓张吗？Xīn lái de yuángōng xìng Zhāng ma?Is the new employee's surname Zhang?
- 志强 Zhiqiang是的，他姓张。Shì de, tā xìng Zhāng.Yes, his surname is Zhang.
- 佳怡 Jiayi张先生很专业。Zhāng xiānsheng hěn zhuānyè.Mr. Zhang is very professional.
- 志强 Zhiqiang没错，我也这么觉得。Méi cuò, wǒ yě zhème juéde.That's right, I think so too.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 张, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
