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同 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
同
tóng
(used in given names)
HSK 5, p, 6 strokes, radical 口, rank #609, Hard
同
tóng
same, similar; together with, alike
HSK 5, p, 6 strokes, radical 口, rank #609, Hard
同
tóng
together
HSK 5, unknown, 6 strokes, radical 口, rank #609, Hard
同
tóng
with
HSK 5, unknown, 6 strokes, radical 口, rank #609, Hard
同
tòng
(used in given names)
HSK 5, p, 6 strokes, radical 口, rank #609, Hard
同
tòng
same, similar; together with, alike
HSK 5, p, 6 strokes, radical 口, rank #609, Hard
同
tòng
together
HSK 5, unknown, 6 strokes, radical 口, rank #609, Hard
同
tòng
with
HSK 5, unknown, 6 strokes, radical 口, rank #609, Hard
tóng(tong2)tong
primary
T2
1(used in given names)
2same, similar; together with, alike
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March 24, 2026
同(仝)tóng(tong2)
The character 同 (tóng) primarily means 'same' or 'together with.' It is used to describe similarities or to indicate that things are in agreement or alignment. Commonly found in various contexts, such as in compound words and phrases, it emphasizes unity or likeness among objects, people, or ideas.
Strokes6Radical口Frequency#609DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of unity and togetherness is highly valued, reflected in phrases like 同舟共济 (tóngzhōu gòngjì), meaning 'to work together in the same boat.' Such expressions highlight the importance of cooperation and collective effort.
Memory tip
Think of 同 (tóng) as two figures standing side by side, symbolizing sameness and togetherness. The character consists of the radical for 'together' (同), which visually represents harmony and unity, reminding you that 'tóng' means 'same' or 'together.'
Meanings of 同
tóng(tong2)
primary
1(used in given names)
2same, similar; together with, alike
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 同
同Simplified
仝Traditional
6Strokes
口Radical
形容词xíngróngcíacdpv (adj.)Part of Speech
#609Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 同
Podcast: 同
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AI study notes for 同
Quick Contrast
相同 (xiāngtóng) — use 同 (tóng) for general sameness or togetherness, while 相同 (xiāngtóng) emphasizes equality or identity in comparison.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 同 (tóng) with similar-sounding words that have different meanings. It is often used in both formal and informal contexts, making it versatile. Common collocations include 同学 (tóngxué, classmate) and 同事 (tóngshì, colleague).
HSK Study Tips
While 同 (tóng) does not appear in the HSK levels, it is important for learners to understand its role in compound words. Students should focus on how it forms connections with other characters, such as in 同样 (tóngyàng, the same) and 同意 (tóngyì, to agree).
Common Mistakes
Learners often mix up 同 (tóng) with 伴 (bàn), which means 'companion.' For example, saying 同朋友 (tóng péngyǒu) instead of 伴朋友 (bàn péngyǒu) can lead to confusion. Remember, 同 emphasizes similarity and togetherness.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 同
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The character 同 (tóng) primarily means 'same' or 'together with.' It is used to describe similarities or to indicate that things are in agreement or alignment. Commonly found in various contexts, such as in compound words and phrases, it emphasizes unity or likeness among objects, people, or ideas.
When to use 同
Be careful not to confuse 同 (tóng) with similar-sounding words that have different meanings. It is often used in both formal and informal contexts, making it versatile. Common collocations include 同学 (tóngxué, classmate) and 同事 (tóngshì, colleague).
同 or something close to it
相同 (xiāngtóng) — use 同 (tóng) for general sameness or togetherness, while 相同 (xiāngtóng) emphasizes equality or identity in comparison.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mix up 同 (tóng) with 伴 (bàn), which means 'companion.' For example, saying 同朋友 (tóng péngyǒu) instead of 伴朋友 (bàn péngyǒu) can lead to confusion. Remember, 同 emphasizes similarity and togetherness.
Write 同
同
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Practice writing 同 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 同
同 functions as a preposition (often called a "coverb" in Chinese). It introduces a phrase that comes BEFORE the main verb (我在家吃饭, 给妈妈打电话), unlike English which puts prepositions after the verb. It carries 4 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.
