正 zhēng / zhèng — Chinese 1st month of year; just (right); main; upright; straight; correct
他正在打电话。Tā zhèng zài dǎ diàn huà.He is making a phone call.
Common words: 正在 (zhèng zài)、真正 (zhēn zhèng)、正常 (zhèng cháng)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "main"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "main", including 正 (zhēng / zhèng), 堂 (táng). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "main" covers 2 different Chinese characters — 正 (zhēng / zhèng), 堂 (táng) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 2 characters do not share a sound — their readings span zhēng, zhèng, táng — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 正 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 正 zhēng / zhèngChinese 1st month of year; just (right); main; upright; straight; correctUseful words: 正在, 真正
- 堂 táng(main) hall; large roomUseful words: 课堂, 食堂
Common words for these 2 "main" characters
Anchor each of these 2 characters in a word you can picture — start with 正 (zhēng / zhèng) — so "main" 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 "main".
堂 táng — (main) hall; large room
我们在学校的大礼堂里开会。Wǒ men zài xué xiào de dà lǐ táng lǐ kāi huì.We had a meeting in the school auditorium.
Common words: 课堂 (kè táng)、食堂 (shí táng)、天堂 (tiān táng)
All 2 characters
Open 正、堂 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.