Meaning
balanced; to fit; well-off; suitable; to call; to praise
Chinese: 称呼、称赞；读 chèn 时表示合适。
Hear the Four Tones
The same syllable “cheng” becomes a different word in each tone. 称 is the 1st tone. Tap any tone to hear a native voice and see its pitch shape.
Stroke Order
Tap Animate to watch the strokes in order, or Practice to trace it yourself.
Common Words
- 名称míng chēngname (of a thing); name (of an organization)
- 称为chēng wéito be called; to be known as; to call it "..."
- 称赞chēng zànto praise; to commend; to compliment
- 称呼chēng huto call; to address as; form of address; appellation
- 称号chēng hàoname; term of address; title
Example Sentence
大家都称他为“小天才”。Dà jiā dōu chēng tā wéi “xiǎo tiān cái”.Everyone calls him a little genius.
大家Dà jiāeveryone都dōuall称chēngto weigh他tāhe为wéifor“小“xiǎosmall天才tiān cái”talent”。
Go deeper
Where this character comes from
The grain radical 禾 plus 尔: originally to weigh grain on a balance — read chēng: ‘to call, name; to say, state; to weigh; to praise’ (称呼, 名称, 称赞); read chèn: ‘to fit, match, suit’ (称心, 相称). Simplified from 稱.
A way to remember it
chēng = to call / weigh (名称); chèn = to fit, suit (称心).