唱 (chàng) means "to sing" with HSK 1 on the new exam.
Pronunciation
Meaning
Primary: to sing
Etymology
Oracle-bone origin
唱 is not found in oracle-bone inscriptions as a fixed form and is best analysed as a seal-era phono-semantic compound. The left component 口 (mouth) is the semantic, indicating vocal action. The right component 昌 (chāng) supplies the pronunciation; 昌 itself is a stack of 日 (sun) over 曰 (to speak), originally meaning 'bright' or 'flourishing speech'.
Form evolution
In small seal script 唱 shows a rounded 口 on the left and a vertically elongated 昌 on the right. Clerical script squared the 口 and compressed the two rectangular elements of 昌 into the stacked 日+日 shape used today. The standard 楷书 form preserves this layout without further change, and there is no simplified variant.
How the meaning evolved
Early classical usage of 唱 meant 'to lead in calling out', particularly in ritual or military contexts where one voice would initiate and others would respond. From 'lead the call' the meaning broadened to singing generally, and by the Tang dynasty it was the standard verb for performing song or verse. Modern Mandarin retains both the 'sing' sense and the older 'call out, proclaim' sense in compounds.
Cultural note
The older 'lead, initiate' meaning survives in compounds like 提唱 (to advocate) and 唱反调 (to sing a contrary tune, i.e. to deliberately oppose), where no actual singing is implied. In traditional opera 唱 is one of the four core performer skills alongside 念 (speech), 做 (acting), and 打 (combat).
Basic info
| Pinyin | chàng |
| Meanings | to sing |
| New HSK exam | Recognise at HSK 1 |
| Frequency | #393 most common |
Example sentences
Words containing 唱
On the new HSK 1 exam
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Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.