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March 24, 2026
章zhāng(zhang1)
The character 章 (zhāng) primarily refers to a chapter or section within a written work, indicating a distinct part of a larger text. It can also denote a seal or a badge, suggesting an official mark of authorization or identity. In musical contexts, it can refer to a movement of a symphony, highlighting its use in artistic expressions.
Strokes11Radical立Frequency#2753DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese literature, chapters (章) are crucial for structuring narratives, much like in Western novels. Traditional texts often have numbered chapters, reflecting the importance of organization in storytelling.
Memory Tip
Imagine a grand scroll (章) with various chapters unfolding like sections of a story. The character looks like a person (the top part) marking a chapter (the bottom part) with a seal, emphasizing the importance of each section in literature and music.
Meanings of 章
zhāng(zhang1)
1chapter
2section
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 章
章Simplified
11Strokes
立Radical
量词liàngcímeasure word (mw.)Part of Speech
#2753Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3BCT✓CEFRC1
Podcast: 章
Podcast: 章
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AI Study Notes for 章
Quick Contrast
节 (jié) - use 章 (zhāng) when referring specifically to chapters or sections in a written work, while 节 (jié) is more commonly used for sections in music or events.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 章 with other similar characters like 章 (zhāng) and 张 (zhāng), which have different meanings. It's used in both formal and informal contexts, but be mindful when using it in legal or official documents, as precision is crucial.
HSK Study Tips
While 章 might not be a part of HSK vocabulary, it connects to words related to writing and literature, such as 文章 (wénzhāng, article) and 章节 (zhāngjié, section). Students should focus on recognizing its usage in written texts and familiarize themselves with its different meanings.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 章 with 张, leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我写了张' (I wrote a Zhang) instead of '我写了章' (I wrote a chapter) can change the intended meaning.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 章
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Learning Lab
Knowing 章 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
The character 章 (zhāng) primarily refers to a chapter or section within a written work, indicating a distinct part of a larger text. It can also denote a seal or a badge, suggesting an official mark of authorization or identity. In musical contexts, it can refer to a movement of a symphony, highlighting its use in artistic expressions.
When to use 章
Common mistakes include confusing 章 with other similar characters like 章 (zhāng) and 张 (zhāng), which have different meanings. It's used in both formal and informal contexts, but be mindful when using it in legal or official documents, as precision is crucial.
章 or something close to it
节 (jié) - use 章 (zhāng) when referring specifically to chapters or sections in a written work, while 节 (jié) is more commonly used for sections in music or events.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 章 with 张, leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我写了张' (I wrote a Zhang) instead of '我写了章' (I wrote a chapter) can change the intended meaning.
Write 章
章
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Grammar Patterns of 章
章 functions as a measure word. Place it between a number/demonstrative and the noun it counts (一本书, 这个人). Different categories of nouns require different measure words. It carries 10 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.
The badges come in twenty different colours and shapes.
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Cultural Notes for 章
💡Did you know?
The character '章' is often used in formal documents and literature to denote sections, emphasizing the structured nature of Chinese writing and legal texts.
Word Family of 章
Compounds25
障zhang4to block
蟑zhang1cockroach
彰zhang1manifest
瘴zhang4malaria; miasma, pestilential vapor
樟zhang1camphor tree
獐zhang1roebuck, hornless river deer
嶂zhang4cliff; the barrier formed by a mountain range
嫜zhang1husband's mother; the lady in the moon
幛zhang4a cloth or silken hanging scroll
暲
漳Zhang1a river in Henan province
璋zhang1jade plaything; jade ornament
瞕
赣Gan4Jiangxi province; places therein
鄣zhang1an ancient city in Jiangsu province
鱆zhang1octopus, devilfish
傽
慞
竷
蔁
贛gan4Jiangxi province; places therein
遧
鏱
騿
麞
Words Containing This Character20
文章wénzhāngarticle
章zhāngchapter
勋章xūnzhāngmedal勛章
徽章badge
规章guīzhāngrule規章
章程zhāngchéngrules
违章wéizhāngto break the rules違章
奖章medal獎章
章鱼octopus章魚
印章yìnzhāngseal
章节chapter章節
宪章charter憲章
篇章writing
章子怡Zhang Ziyi (1979-), PRC actress
乐章movement (of a symphony)樂章
盖章gàizhāngto affix a seal蓋章
顺理成章shùnlǐchéngzhānglogical順理成章
公章official seal
党章party constitution黨章
做文章to fuss
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 章
What does 障 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 章
Yes, 章 (Zhāng) is a relatively common surname in China. It is often found among individuals and families and can be used as both a given name and a surname.
章 (zhāng) typically refers to a section or clause of a larger text, while 条 (tiáo) is more commonly used for lines or articles, especially in legal or formal contexts. For example, 条 is often used to describe specific articles in laws or regulations.
To use 章 (zhāng) in a sentence, you could say '这篇文章有五个章' (Zhè piān wénzhāng yǒu wǔ gè zhāng), which means 'This article has five sections.' It can also be used in contexts like '乐章' (yuèzhāng), meaning 'musical movement.'
章 (zhāng) has several meanings in Chinese, including 'section' or 'clause' in written texts. It can also refer to a movement in a symphony, as well as signify a seal or badge. Additionally, 章 is a common surname, especially pronounced as Zhang.
In everyday language, 章 typically refers to chapters in books or sections in documents.
Yes, 章 can refer to movements in a symphony, highlighting its artistic context.
It is pronounced as 'zhāng', with a high level tone.
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