同 (tóng) means "same, together" with 6 strokes, radical 冂 (down box), HSK 1 on the new exam.
Pronunciation
Meaning
Primary: same
Other meanings:
- together
Etymology
Oracle-bone origin
The oracle bone form of 同 shows a covering or frame enclosing a 口 (mouth or opening) below. One common interpretation is a tubular or cylindrical object with an opening, possibly a section of bamboo or a ceremonial vessel used collectively. Another reading takes it as many mouths speaking under one roof, representing agreement.
Form evolution
The bronze 金文 form is close to the oracle bone, with a clear outer frame and inner 口. In 篆书 the outer element regularises into the ㄇ-shaped 冂 with a horizontal stroke inside, and 口 sits cleanly at the base. 隶书 straightens the curves into the angular shape, and 楷书 fixes the modern form with no further structural change.
How the meaning evolved
The early sense clustered around 'together', 'joint', or 'shared', which led naturally to 'same' and 'alike' in Classical Chinese. This core meaning has been remarkably stable. Modern Mandarin uses 同 for 'same' (相同), 'together with' (同事, colleague), and as a preposition meaning 'with'.
Cultural note
The phrase 同舟共济 (in the same boat, helping each other across) preserves the ancient communal sense of 同 and is still used to describe people sharing hardship. The compound 胡同 (hútòng, Beijing alley) uses 同 for its sound rather than meaning, a reminder that phonetic loans happen even in common words.
Mnemonic
One mouth in the same frame — together
Decomposition
Breaking a character into its components makes it far easier to recall. Each component above links to its own detail page.
Basic info
| Pinyin | tóng |
| Meanings | same, together |
| Stroke count | 6 strokes |
| Radical | 冂 (#13: down box) |
| New HSK exam | Recognise at HSK 1, write by hand at HSK 1-2 |
| Frequency | #90 most common |
Example sentences
Words containing 同
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | HSK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 同 | tóng | same, together | HSK 5 |
| 同学 | tóngxué | shoolmate | HSK 1 |
| 同事 | tóngshì | Colleague | HSK 3 |
| 同意 | tóngyì | Agree | HSK 3 |
| 共同 | gòngtóng | common | HSK 4 |
| 同时 | tóngshí | meanwhile | HSK 4 |
| 同情 | tóngqíng | Sympathy | HSK 5 |
| 相同 | xiāngtóng | identical | HSK 4 |
| 合同 | hétong | contract | HSK 5 |
| 胡同 | hútòng | Hutong | HSK 5 |
| 不同凡响 | bùtóngfánxiǎng | out of the ordinary, outstanding | |
| 不约而同 | bùyuē'értóng | agree by chance, happen to coincide | HSK 7-9 |
| 大同小异 | dàtóngxiǎoyì | almost identical | HSK 7-9 |
| 等同 | děngtóng | to equate, to treat as equal |
Related characters
Similar meaning (abstract)
On the new HSK 1 exam
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Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.