钟 zhōng clock
clock; bell; o'clock
How to remember 钟: 钅 gold + 中 middle = clock. Every night the watchmaker polishes the gold hands that turn around the middle of her beloved old clock.
Component breakdown
形声 · Meaning + sound
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
钟 = 钅 gold + 中 middle
- 钅 gold meaning
- 中 middle sound
Every night the watchmaker polishes the gold hands that turn around the middle of her beloved old clock.
How it came to be
Metal gives the meaning, for a bell, and the short form uses a simpler part for the sound.
How it is used
- Clock / bell: 闹钟 (nàozhōng) alarm clock.
- And the time unit: 分钟 (fēnzhōng) minute; 五分钟 (wǔ fēnzhōng) five minutes; 点钟 (diǎnzhōng) o'clock: 五点钟 (wǔ diǎn zhōng) five o'clock.
Words with 钟
Example sentences
- 现在几点钟？ Xiànzài jǐ diǎn zhōng?What time is it now?
- 十分钟后开会。 Shí fēnzhōng hòu kāihuì.The meeting will start in 10 minutes.
- 闹钟响了，但是他没醒。 Nàozhōng xiǎng le, dànshì tā méi xǐng.The alarm clock has rung, but he hasn't yet woken up.