zhāng

chapter, seal

Original meaning: 

jade ornament

Possibly depicts using a blade () to engrave a block of jade. Based on the original meaning "jade ornament", now written as . Later the meaning shifted to "seal" and "chapter".

Components
䇂 iconic component

  Iconic component

qiān

  

sickle, curved blade

◎ iconic component

  Iconic component

  

characterless component

Depicts a block of jade.

Evolution

章 Bronze script Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze script

Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
章 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
章 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
章 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

 

zhāng

composition; chapter, section; chapter; section; clause; movement (of symphony); seal; badge; regulation; order

 

Zhāng

surname Zhang

Most common words with 章
Freq.
Word
Meaning

文章

article

chapter

勋章

medal

徽章

badge

规章

rule

Component uses

Meaning component in 1 character (0 verified)

Sound component in 13 characters (2 verified)

Unknown component in 2 characters (0 verified)