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March 24, 2026
充chōng(chong1)
The character 充 (chōng) primarily means 'to fill' or 'to satisfy.' It is commonly used in contexts involving filling something up, such as a container, or satisfying a need or requirement. The character can also denote acting in place of someone or something, suggesting a sense of substitution or sufficiency.
Strokes6Radical儿Frequency#8883DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 充 can relate to hospitality, where hosts aim to 'fill' their guests with good food and a warm atmosphere, reflecting the importance of satisfaction and abundance in social interactions.
Memory Tip
Imagine a large container that is 充 (chōng) with water until it's overflowing. The container represents the idea of being full, and the pronunciation 'chōng' sounds like 'chong' which can remind you of 'chugging' a drink until it’s full.
Meanings of 充
chōng(chong1)
1to fill
2to satisfy
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 充
充Simplified
6Strokes
儿Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#8883Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 充
Podcast: 充
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AI Study Notes for 充
Quick Contrast
充 (chōng) vs 满 (mǎn) — use 充 when emphasizing the act of filling or satisfying, while 满 focuses on the state of being full.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a large container that is 充 (chōng) with water until it's overflowing. The container represents the idea of being full, and the pronunciation 'chōng' sounds like 'chong' which can remind you of 'chugging' a drink until it’s full.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 充 with similar words like 满 (mǎn), which also means 'full' but has a slightly different nuance. 充 is more about the act of filling, while 满 refers to the state of being full. Use 充 in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious about tone; ensure you pronounce it with the correct first tone.
HSK Study Tips
While 充 is not explicitly listed in HSK levels, it connects well with other verbs of filling or sufficiency found in HSK 3 and 4. Focus on using it in phrases that require fulfillment of needs or filling physical spaces to enhance your vocabulary.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 充 can relate to hospitality, where hosts aim to 'fill' their guests with good food and a warm atmosphere, reflecting the importance of satisfaction and abundance in social interactions.
Common Mistakes
Learners might incorrectly use 充 in contexts where 满 would be more appropriate, such as saying '这杯子充了水' (This cup is filled with water) instead of '这杯子满了水' (This cup is full of water). Remember, 充 emphasizes the action of filling.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 充
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Grammar Patterns of 充
充 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 8 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
This, after all, is a company which is awash with cash.
Cultural Notes for 充
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of 充 can relate to hospitality, where hosts aim to 'fill' their guests with good food and a warm atmosphere, reflecting the importance of satisfaction and abundance in social interactions.
Word Family of 充
Compounds6
统tong3to gather
铳chong4ancient weapon; blunderbuss
珫
統tong3to govern, to command; to gather, to unite
茺chong1
銃chong4ancient weapon; blunderbuss
Words Containing This Character20
充满chōngmǎnfull of充滿
充分chōngfènample
补充bǔchōngto replenish補充
充足chōngzúadequate
充chōngto fill
充实chōngshírich充實
充电chōngdiànto recharge batteries充電
充当chōngdāngto serve as充當
冒充màochōngto feign
充斥to flood
充气to inflate充氣
填充tiánchōngpad
精力充沛vigorous
充裕abundant
充电器chōngdiànqìbattery charger充電器
充值to recharge (money onto a card)
充沛chōngpèiabundant
扩充kuòchōngto expand擴充
充血blood congestion
充值卡rechargeable card
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 统 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 充
充 has several meanings, including 'to fill,' 'to satisfy,' and 'to fulfill.' It can also refer to acting in place of someone, thus serving as a substitute. Depending on the context, it can imply sufficiency or completeness as well.
Yes, 充 is commonly used in everyday conversation, especially in contexts related to filling, charging, or fulfilling roles. For instance, it's often used when talking about charging electronic devices or satisfying needs, making it a practical word for learners.
充 (chōng) means 'to fill' or 'to satisfy' in Chinese. It can also imply fulfilling a role or acting in place of someone or something. The character conveys a sense of completeness or sufficiency.
You can use 充 in sentences to express actions like filling something up or satisfying a requirement. For example, '我需要充电' (Wǒ xūyào chōng diàn) means 'I need to charge (my device).' It can also be used in contexts like fulfilling a role, e.g., '他充当老师' (Tā chōngdāng lǎoshī) means 'He acts as a teacher.'
You can use 充 in phrases like 充电 (chōng diàn) meaning 'to charge (a battery)' or 充实 (chōng shí) meaning 'to enrich or fulfill.'
Yes, 充 is commonly used in both written and spoken forms of Chinese.
Focus on the context; use 充 when emphasizing the act of filling, while other words like 满 are better for describing a state of fullness.
