长 cháng — length; long; forever; always; constantly; chief
这条河很长。Zhè tiáo hé hěn cháng.This river is very long.
Common words: 长大 (zhǎng dà)、家长 (jiā zhǎng)、队长 (duì zhǎng)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "chief"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "chief", including 长 (cháng), 首 (shǒu). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "chief" covers 2 different Chinese characters — 长 (cháng), 首 (shǒu) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 2 characters do not share a sound — their readings span cháng, shǒu — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 长 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 长 chánglength; long; forever; always; constantly; chiefUseful words: 长大, 家长
- 首 shǒuhead; chief; first (occasion); first (thing); measure word for poemsUseful words: 首先, 首都
Common words for these 2 "chief" characters
Anchor each of these 2 characters in a word you can picture — start with 长 (cháng) — so "chief" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 2 ways to say "chief".
首 shǒu — head; chief; first (occasion); first (thing); measure word for poems
我很喜欢这首歌。Wǒ hěn xǐ huan zhè shǒu gē.I really like this song.
Common words: 首先 (shǒu xiān)、首都 (shǒu dū)、首次 (shǒu cì)
All 2 characters
Open 长、首 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.