常

See also: 堂

常 U+5E38, 常 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-5E38 ← 帷 [U+5E37] CJK Unified Ideographs 帹 → [U+5E39]

Translingual

Stroke order

Han character

常 (Kangxi radical 50, 巾+8, 11 strokes, cangjie input 火月口中月 (FBRLB), four-corner 9022₇, composition ⿱𫩠巾 or ⿱龸吊)

Derived characters

• 𭂝, 𠼔, 嫦, 𫺺, 𣻸, 𣙟, 𣰎, 龦, 瑺, 𫀠, 𮈼, 蟐, 𮖫, 𭋠, 鏛, 𫙲, 𭀕, 𩀯, 𫷓, 𪄹, 𢊥, 𫉒, 𤹰, 㦂

Further reading

• Kangxi Dictionary: page 333, character 12
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 8955
• Dae Jaweon: page 639, character 13
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 744, character 1
• Unihan data for U+5E38

Chinese

simp. and trad.		常
alternative forms		㦂

Glyph origin

Characters in the same phonetic series (尚) (Zhengzhang, 2003) 

	Old Chinese
當	*taːŋ, *taːŋs
襠	*taːŋ
鐺	*taːŋ, *sʰraːŋ
簹	*taːŋ
璫	*taːŋ
檔	*taːŋ, *taːŋs
儅	*taːŋ, *taːŋs
蟷	*taːŋ
擋	*taːŋʔ, *taːŋs
黨	*taːŋʔ, *tʰaːŋʔ
讜	*taːŋʔ
欓	*taːŋʔ
譡	*taːŋs
闣	*taːŋs
瓽	*taːŋs
鏜	*tʰaːŋ
闛	*tʰaːŋ, *daːŋ
鼞	*tʰaːŋ
曭	*tʰaːŋʔ
儻	*tʰaːŋʔ, *tʰaːŋs
戃	*tʰaːŋʔ
矘	*tʰaːŋʔ
爣	*tʰaːŋʔ
攩	*hl'aːŋʔ, *ɦʷlaːŋʔ, *ɦʷlaːŋs
淌	*tʰaːŋʔ
倘	*tʰaːŋʔ
躺	*tʰaːŋʔ
趟	*tʰaːŋs, *rtaːŋ, *rtaːŋs
堂	*daːŋ
坣	*daːŋ
棠	*daːŋ
糛	*daːŋ
螳	*daːŋ
隚	*daːŋ
橖	*daːŋ
掌	*tjaŋʔ
廠	*tʰjaŋʔ, *tʰjaŋs
敞	*tʰjaŋʔ
僘	*tʰjaŋʔ
氅	*tʰjaŋʔ
常	*djaŋ
嘗	*djaŋ
裳	*djaŋ
徜	*djaŋ
尚	*djaŋ, *djaŋs
甞	*djaŋ
鋿	*djaŋ
嫦	*djaŋ
償	*djaŋ, *djaŋs
賞	*hjaŋʔ
瞠	*rtʰaːŋ
撐	*rtʰaːŋ
樘	*rtʰaːŋ
橕	*rtʰaːŋ
牚	*rtʰaːŋs
埫	*tʰoŋʔ

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *djaŋ) : phonetic 尚 (OC *djaŋ, *djaŋs) + semantic 巾 (“cloth”).

The character originally referred to "lower garment", before being phonetically borrowed to mean "long-lasting; frequently". The original sense is now represented by the character 裳 (OC *djaŋ, “lower garment”).

Etymology

From Proto-Sino-Tibetan; perhaps related to Tibetan ཡང (yang, “again, once more”) (Schuessler, 2007).

Pronunciation 1

• Mandarin

  (Standard)

  (Pinyin): cháng (chang²)

  (Zhuyin): ㄔㄤˊ

  (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): cang² / sang²

• Cantonese

  (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): soeng⁴

  (Taishan, Wiktionary): siang³

• Gan (Wiktionary): song⁴
• Hakka

  (Sixian, PFS): sòng

  (Meixian, Guangdong): song²

• Jin (Wiktionary): con¹
• Northern Min (KCR): iǒ̤ng
• Eastern Min (BUC): siòng
• Southern Min

  (Hokkien, POJ): siông / siâng / siûⁿ / siôⁿ

  (Teochew, Peng'im): sion⁵ / siên⁵ / siang⁵

• Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): ⁶zan
• Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): shan²

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: cháng
    • Zhuyin: ㄔㄤˊ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: cháng
    • Wade–Giles: chʻang²
    • Yale: cháng
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: charng
    • Palladius: чан (čan)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/
  • (Chengdu)
    • Sichuanese Pinyin: cang² / sang²
    • Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: cang / sang
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sʰaŋ²¹/, /saŋ²¹/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: soeng⁴
    • Yale: sèuhng
    • Cantonese Pinyin: soeng⁴
    • Guangdong Romanization: sêng⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sœːŋ²¹/
  • (Taishanese, Taicheng)
    • Wiktionary: siang³
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /siaŋ²²/
• Gan
  • (Nanchang)
    • Wiktionary: song⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sɔŋ³⁵/
• Hakka
  • (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Meinong)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: sòng
    • Hakka Romanization System: song^ˇ
    • Hagfa Pinyim: song²
    • Sinological IPA: /soŋ¹¹/
  • (Meixian)
    • Guangdong: song²
    • Sinological IPA: /sɔŋ¹¹/
• Jin
  • (Taiyuan)⁺
    • Wiktionary: con¹
    • Sinological IPA (old-style): /t͡sʰɒ̃¹¹/
• Northern Min
  • (Jian'ou)
    • Kienning Colloquial Romanized: iǒ̤ng
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /iɔŋ²¹/
• Eastern Min
  • (Fuzhou)
    • Bàng-uâ-cê: siòng
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /suoŋ⁵³/
• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Jinjiang, General Taiwanese)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: siông
    • Tâi-lô: siông
    • Phofsit Daibuun: sioong
    • IPA (Xiamen, Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Taipei): /siɔŋ²⁴/
    • IPA (Kaohsiung): /siɔŋ²³/
  • (Hokkien: Zhangzhou)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: siâng
    • Tâi-lô: siâng
    • Phofsit Daibuun: siaang
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /siaŋ¹³/
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, General Taiwanese)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: siûⁿ
    • Tâi-lô: siûnn
    • Phofsit Daibuun: sviuu
    • IPA (Xiamen, Quanzhou, Taipei): /siũ²⁴/
    • IPA (Kaohsiung): /siũ²³/
  • (Hokkien: Zhangzhou, Tainan)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: siôⁿ
    • Tâi-lô: siônn
    • Phofsit Daibuun: sviooi
    • IPA (Tainan): /siɔ̃²⁴/
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /siɔ̃¹³/

Note:

• siông/siâng - literary;
• siûⁿ/siôⁿ - vernacular, limited (variant in 平常, 庸常, obsolete for surname).

• (Teochew)
  • Peng'im: sion⁵ / siên⁵ / siang⁵
  • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: siôⁿ / siêⁿ / siâng
  • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sĩõ⁵⁵/, /sĩẽ⁵⁵/, /siaŋ⁵⁵/

Note:

• sion5/siên5 - vernacular (siên5 - Chaozhou);
• siang5 - literary.

• Wu
  • (Northern: Shanghai)
    • Wugniu: ⁶zan
    • MiniDict: zan^去
    • Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ³zan
    • Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /zã²³/
• Xiang
  • (Changsha)
    • Wiktionary: shan²
    • Sinological IPA ^(key) (old-style): /ʂan¹³/
    • Sinological IPA ^(key) (new-style): /san¹³/

---

• Dialectal data

Variety	Location	edit 常
Mandarin	Beijing	/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/
	Harbin	/ʈ͡ʂʰaŋ²⁴/
	Tianjin	/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁴⁵/ /t͡sʰɑŋ⁴⁵/
	Jinan	/ʈ͡ʂʰaŋ⁴²/
	Qingdao	/tʃʰaŋ⁴²/
	Zhengzhou	/ʈ͡ʂʰaŋ⁴²/
	Xi'an	/ʈ͡ʂʰaŋ²⁴/
	Xining	/ʈ͡ʂʰɔ̃²⁴/
	Yinchuan	/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵³/
	Lanzhou	/ʈ͡ʂʰɑ̃⁵³/
	Ürümqi	/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ⁵¹/
	Wuhan	/t͡sʰaŋ²¹³/
	Chengdu	/saŋ³¹/
	Guiyang	/saŋ²¹/
	Kunming	/ʈ͡ʂʰã̠³¹/
	Nanjing	/ʈ͡ʂʰaŋ²⁴/
	Hefei	/ʈ͡ʂʰɑ̃⁵⁵/
Jin	Taiyuan	/t͡sʰɒ̃¹¹/
	Pingyao	/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ¹³/
	Hohhot	/t͡sʰɑ̃³¹/
Wu	Shanghai	/zɑ̃²³/
	Suzhou	/zã¹³/
	Hangzhou	/d͡zɑŋ²¹³/
	Wenzhou	/ji³¹/
Hui	Shexian	/t͡ɕʰia⁴⁴/
	Tunxi	/t͡ɕiau⁴⁴/
Xiang	Changsha	/ʂan¹³/
	Xiangtan	/ʂɔn¹²/
Gan	Nanchang	/sɔŋ⁴⁵/
Hakka	Meixian	/soŋ¹¹/
	Taoyuan	/ʃoŋ¹¹/
Cantonese	Guangzhou	/sœŋ²¹/
	Nanning	/t͡sʰœŋ²¹/
	Hong Kong	/sœŋ²¹/
Min	Xiamen (Hokkien)	/siɔŋ³⁵/
	Fuzhou (Eastern Min)	/suoŋ⁵³/
	Jian'ou (Northern Min)	/iɔŋ²¹/
	Shantou (Teochew)	/siaŋ⁵⁵/ /siõ⁵⁵/
	Haikou (Hainanese)	/tiaŋ³¹/ /saŋ³¹/ 平時

---

• Middle Chinese: dzyang

Rime
Character	常
Reading #	1/1
Initial (聲)	常 (25)
Final (韻)	陽 (105)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	市羊切
Baxter	dzyang
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/d͡ʑɨɐŋ/
Pan Wuyun	/d͡ʑiɐŋ/
Shao Rongfen	/d͡ʑiɑŋ/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/d͡ʑɨaŋ/
Li Rong	/ʑiaŋ/
Wang Li	/ʑĭaŋ/
Bernard Karlgren	/ʑi̯aŋ/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	cháng
Expected Cantonese Reflex	soeng4

• Old Chinese

  (Baxter–Sagart): /*[d]aŋ/

  (Zhengzhang): /*djaŋ/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	常
Reading #	1/1
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	cháng
Middle Chinese	‹ dzyang ›
Old Chinese	/*[d]aŋ/
English	constant
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	常
Reading #	1/1
No.	11152
Phonetic component	尚
Rime group	陽
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	常
Old Chinese	/*djaŋ/

Definitions

常

1. normal; general; common

   常人  ―  chángrén  ―  common people

   人之常情  ―  rénzhīchángqíng  ―  human nature

   非常  ―  fēicháng  ―  extraordinary

   習以為常／习以为常  ―  xíyǐwéicháng  ―  to be accustomed to (something)

2. constant; invariable

   常駐／常驻  ―  chángzhù  ―  to be stationed in

   • 疆埸之邑，一彼一此，何常之有？ [Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]

     From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4^th century BCE

     Jiāngyì zhī yì, yī bǐ yī cǐ, hé cháng zhī yǒu? [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 聖人無常心，以百姓心為心。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     圣人无常心，以百姓心为心。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Tao Te Ching, 4^th century BCE

     Shèngrén wú cháng xīn, yǐ bǎixìng xīn wéi xīn. [Pinyin]

     The sage has no invariable mind of his own; he makes the mind of the people his mind.

3. often; frequently

   經常／经常  ―  jīngcháng  ―  often

   • 世有伯樂，然後有千里馬。千里馬常有，而伯樂不常有。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     世有伯乐，然后有千里马。千里马常有，而伯乐不常有。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: 8th–9th century, Han Yu, 雜說四

     Shì yǒu Bólè, ránhòu yǒu qiānlǐmǎ. Qiānlǐmǎ cháng yǒu, ér Bólè bù cháng yǒu. [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 鳳姐兒聽了，不覺的眼圈兒又紅了，道：「我得了閒兒，必常來看你。」 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
     凤姐儿听了，不觉的眼圈儿又红了，道：「我得了闲儿，必常来看你。」 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

     From: Cao Xueqin, Dream of the Red Chamber, mid-18^th century CE

     Fèng Jiěr tīng le, bùjiào de yǎnquānr yòu hóng le, dào: “Wǒ dé le xiánr, bì cháng lái kàn nǐ.” [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

4. (literary) law and order

   三綱五常／三纲五常  ―  sāngāngwǔcháng  ―  (please add an English translation of this usage example)

5. (literary) law; rule; regular pattern

   • 天行有常，不為堯存，不為桀亡。應之以治則吉，應之以亂則凶。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     天行有常，不为尧存，不为桀亡。应之以治则吉，应之以乱则凶。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Xunzi, c. 3^rd century BCE

     Tiān xíng yǒu cháng, bù wèi Yáo cún, bù wèi Jié wáng. Yìng zhī yǐ zhì zé jí, yìng zhī yǐ luàn zé xiōng. [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

6. an ancient unit of length equivalent to two xuns (尋／寻)
7. 51st tetragram of the Taixuanjing; "constancy" (𝌸)
8. a surname

   常遇春  ―  Cháng Yùchūn  ―  Chang Yuchun (Ming dynasty general)

Synonyms

Dialectal synonyms of 常常 (“often; frequently”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		經常, 時常, 常常, 時時, 往往, 每每
Northeastern Mandarin	Beijing	常
	Taiwan	常常
	Harbin	時不見兒, 時不當, 時不當兒, 時不常, 時不常兒, 時不時
	Singapore	常常
Jilu Mandarin	Jinan	常常, 常, 時常
Central Plains Mandarin	Xi'an	常常, 常, 時常
Southwestern Mandarin	Chengdu	時常, 常常, 隨時, 時不時
	Wuhan	帶常, 時常
Jianghuai Mandarin	Yangzhou	常
	Hefei	常
Cantonese	Guangzhou	時時, 時常, 長時, 周時, 遇時, 時不時
	Hong Kong	成日, 經常, 時時, 好多時, 好多時候, 周時, 周不時
	Hong Kong (San Tin Weitou)	經常
	Yangjiang	周時
Gan	Nanchang	千常, 時常
Hakka	Meixian	輒常, 長時, 時常, 時不時
	Miaoli (N. Sixian)	輒輒, 輒常, 長透, 常常, 時常, 不時, 時時, 長間, 經常
	Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian)	輒輒, 輒常, 長透, 登常, 常常, 時常, 不時, 時時, 長間, 經常
	Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)	輒輒, 輒常, 長透, 常常, 時常, 不時, 時時, 長間, 經常
	Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)	輒輒, 長在, 輒常, 常常, 時常, 不時, 時時, 經常
	Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)	輒輒, 常勻, 輒常, 長透, 常常, 時常, 不時, 時時, 長間, 經常
	Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)	輒輒, 不時, 輒, 恬恬, 長透, 時時
	Hong Kong	長日
Huizhou	Jixi	三不時, 時不時
Jin	Taiyuan	常常, 時常, 時不時
Eastern Min	Fuzhou	稠稠, 稠, 盡稠
Southern Min	Xiamen	定定, 長長, 四常, 時常, 常常, 不時, 不期時
	Quanzhou	定定, 長長, 四常, 時常, 常常, 不時
	Zhangzhou	定定, 時常, 常常, 不時, 不期時
	Tainan	定定, 時常, 常常, 不時, 捷捷, 沓沓, 常在, 往往
	Manila (Hokkien)	定定, 常常, 四常, 不時
	Chaozhou	長時, 惦惦
	Shantou	經常, 時常, 時時, 惦惦
	Bangkok (Teochew)	惦惦
	Leizhou	長世, 長常
Wu	Shanghai	常樁, 常常, 經常
	Shanghai (Chongming)	千常
	Suzhou	時常, 常時, 常樁
	Ningbo	老老, 老長 rare, 長常 rare, 長時 rare
	Wenzhou	清清, 常期
Xiang	Changsha	練常, 打常, 扯常, 扯常子, 時不時
	Shuangfeng	練常, 常常

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (常):

• → Japanese: 常(じょう) (jō)
• → Korean: 상(常) (sang)
• → Vietnamese: thường (常)

Compounds

• 一反常態／一反常态 (yīfǎnchángtài)
• 一日無常／一日无常
• 一旦無常／一旦无常
• 三常
• 三綱五常／三纲五常 (sāngāngwǔcháng)
• 不主故常
• 不尋常／不寻常
• 不常 (bùcháng)
• 不比尋常／不比寻常
• 中常 (zhōngcháng)
• 中常侍 (zhōngchángshì)
• 中常委
• 中常會／中常会
• 久常
• 乖常
• 亂天常／乱天常
• 亂常／乱常
• 事無常師／事无常师
• 五常 (wǔcháng)
• 人之常情 (rénzhīchángqíng)
• 人情之常 (rénqíngzhīcháng)
• 人生無常／人生无常
• 何常
• 伯常
• 作輟無常／作辍无常
• 佹常
• 佯常
• 依常
• 倫常／伦常 (lúncháng)
• 倍常
• 兒無常父／儿无常父
• 內常侍／内常侍
• 兵家常事
• 兵無常勢／兵无常势
• 兵無常形／兵无常形
• 典常
• 凡常
• 出乎尋常／出乎寻常
• 出常調／出常调
• 出沒不常／出没不常
• 出没不常
• 出沒無常／出没无常
• 勝常／胜常
• 十常侍 (shíchángshì)
• 十方常住
• 反常 (fǎncháng)
• 反常人格
• 反復不常／反复不常
• 反復無常／反复无常 (fǎnfùwúcháng)
• 反戾天常
• 反覆無常／反覆无常 (fǎnfùwúcháng)
• 古常
• 同常
• 向常
• 喜怒無常／喜怒无常 (xǐnùwúcháng)
• 固常
• 國常／国常
• 圓常／圆常
• 圓常無／圆常无
• 大常
• 太常 (tàicháng)
• 天常 (tiāncháng)
• 太常博士
• 太常妻
• 太常寺 (Tàichángsì)
• 太常雅樂／太常雅乐
• 失常 (shīcháng)
• 奉常
• 如常 (rúcháng)
• 好景不常 (hǎojǐngbùcháng)
• 孟常
• 季常之懼／季常之惧
• 季常癖
• 學無常師／学无常师
• 守分安常
• 守常
• 安常
• 安常履順／安常履顺
• 安常習故／安常习故
• 安常處順／安常处顺
• 安適如常／安适如常
• 官常
• 家常 (jiācháng)
• 家常便飯／家常便饭 (jiāchángbiànfàn)
• 家常茶飯／家常茶饭
• 家常菜 (jiāchángcài)
• 家常裏短／家常里短
• 家常話／家常话
• 家常飯／家常饭 (jiāchángfàn)
• 家無常禮／家无常礼
• 富貴無常／富贵无常
• 專常／专常
• 尋常／寻常 (xúncháng)
• 少常
• 居常
• 常不肯
• 常世
• 常主
• 常久 (chángjiǔ)
• 常乳
• 常事 (chángshì)
• 常人 (chángrén)
• 常令
• 常任 (chángrèn)
• 常伯
• 常位
• 常住 (chángzhù)
• 常住奴
• 常侍 (chángshì)
• 常例 (chánglì)
• 常例錢／常例钱
• 常便
• 常俗
• 常候
• 常俸
• 常倫／常伦
• 常備／常备 (chángbèi)
• 常備不懈／常备不懈
• 常備兵／常备兵 (chángbèibīng)
• 常備兵役／常备兵役
• 常備軍／常备军 (chángbèijūn)
• 常僚
• 常價／常价
• 常儀／常仪
• 常儔／常俦
• 常典
• 常分
• 常刑 (chángxíng)
• 常制
• 常則／常则
• 常則是／常则是
• 常務／常务 (chángwù)
• 常務委員／常务委员 (chángwù wěiyuán)
• 常勝家／常胜家
• 常勝將軍／常胜将军
• 常勝軍／常胜军
• 常勢／常势
• 常十萬／常十万
• 常參／常参
• 常參官／常参官
• 常可
• 常古
• 常名
• 常君
• 常品
• 常員／常员
• 常器
• 常因
• 常在 (chángzài)
• 常均
• 常堅冰／常坚冰
• 常塗／常涂
• 常境
• 常壹
• 常奉
• 常套 (chángtào)
• 常奧／常奥
• 常奴
• 常好
• 常好是
• 常好道
• 常委 (chángwěi)
• 常姓
• 常娥 (Cháng'é)
• 常存
• 常守
• 常安
• 常宗
• 常官
• 常客 (chángkè)
• 常家
• 常宿
• 常寂光土
• 常寐
• 常寧／常宁 (Chángníng)
• 常寵／常宠
• 常尊
• 常尤
• 常局
• 常居
• 常山 (Chángshān)
• 常山舌
• 常山蛇
• 常山蛇勢／常山蛇势
• 常山陣／常山阵
• 常川 (chángchuān)
• 常州 (Chángzhōu)
• 常州學派／常州学派
• 常州畫派／常州画派
• 常州詞派／常州词派
• 常師／常师 (chángshī)
• 常常 (chángcháng)
• 常平 (Chángpíng)
• 常平倉／常平仓
• 常平本錢／常平本钱
• 常平法
• 常平錢／常平钱
• 常平鹽／常平盐
• 常年 (chángnián)
• 常年累月
• 常序
• 常度
• 常庸
• 常式
• 常形
• 常律
• 常徒
• 常從／常从
• 常德 (Chángdé)
• 常心
• 常性 (chángxìng)
• 常恒
• 常情 (chángqíng)
• 常愁
• 常惺惺
• 常態／常态 (chángtài)
• 常態分班／常态分班
• 常態法／常态法
• 常憲／常宪
• 常懷／常怀
• 常戍
• 常所
• 常才
• 常操
• 常故
• 常數／常数 (chángshù)
• 常斷／常断
• 常日
• 常明燈／常明灯
• 常星
• 常春木
• 常春藤 (chángchūnténg)
• 常時／常时 (chángshí)
• 常景 (chángjǐng)
• 常智
• 常暘／常旸
• 常會／常会 (chánghuì)
• 常月
• 常服 (chángfú)
• 常朝
• 常期
• 常材
• 常林歡／常林欢
• 常柄
• 常枲
• 常格
• 常梪
• 常棣 (chángdì)
• 常棣碑
• 常楊／常杨
• 常業／常业
• 常業犯／常业犯
• 常模
• 常檢／常检
• 常正
• 常步
• 常武
• 常歲／常岁
• 常民
• 常沙
• 常法
• 常流
• 常溫／常温 (chángwēn)
• 常準／常准
• 常溫動物／常温动物
• 常溫層／常温层
• 常滿／常满
• 常滿倉／常满仓
• 常滿尊／常满尊
• 常滿燈／常满灯
• 常滿盃／常满杯
• 常然
• 常無有／常无有
• 常燠
• 常爵
• 常物
• 常玩
• 常珍
• 常班
• 常理 (chánglǐ)
• 常理兒／常理儿
• 常生
• 常生子
• 常產／常产
• 常用 (chángyòng)
• 常用對數／常用对数 (chángyòng duìshù)
• 常用詞／常用词 (chángyòngcí)
• 常疾
• 常祀
• 常祥
• 常祭
• 常禁
• 常禮／常礼
• 常禮服／常礼服
• 常科
• 常秩
• 常程
• 常等
• 常節／常节
• 常筭
• 常算
• 常篇
• 常紀／常纪
• 常經／常经
• 常綠林／常绿林
• 常綠植物／常绿植物
• 常綠樹／常绿树 (chánglǜshù)
• 常羊 (chángyáng)
• 常羞
• 常羲
• 常習／常习
• 常聲／常声
• 常職／常职
• 常臣
• 常與／常与
• 常處／常处
• 常行
• 常行兒／常行儿
• 常衡 (chánghéng)
• 常見／常见 (chángjiàn)
• 常規／常规 (chángguī)
• 常規戰爭／常规战争 (chángguī zhànzhēng)
• 常規武器／常规武器 (chángguī wǔqì)
• 常言 (chángyán)
• 常計／常计
• 常設／常设 (chángshè)
• 常試／常试
• 常話／常话
• 常語／常语
• 常課／常课
• 常調／常调
• 常談／常谈
• 常論／常论
• 常識／常识 (chángshí)
• 常譚／常谭
• 常識哲學／常识哲学
• 常識課／常识课
• 常象
• 常賃／常赁
• 常賦／常赋
• 常賞／常赏
• 常賣／常卖
• 常賣舖／常卖铺
• 常起居
• 常足
• 常路
• 常車／常车
• 常軌／常轨 (chángguǐ)
• 常辟
• 常途
• 常道
• 常違／常违
• 常遠／常远
• 常選／常选
• 常郊
• 常量 (chángliàng)
• 常閭／常闾
• 常限
• 常陳／常陈
• 常陰／常阴
• 常陽／常阳
• 常隨／常随
• 常隸／常隶
• 常雨
• 常青 (chángqīng)
• 常音
• 常順／常顺
• 常類／常类
• 常願／常愿
• 常風／常风 (chángfēng)
• 常食 (chángshí)
• 常餼／常饩
• 常饌／常馔
• 常駐／常驻 (chángzhù)
• 常驪／常骊
• 常骨
• 常體／常体
• 平常 (píngcháng)
• 平常人 (píngchángrén)
• 平常人家
• 平常心 (píngchángxīn)
• 年常
• 序常
• 庶常
• 庸常
• 張常臺／张常台 (Zhāngchángtái)
• 往常 (wǎngcháng)
• 往常時／往常时
• 往常間／往常间
• 循常
• 循常習故／循常习故
• 恆常／恒常 (héngcháng)
• 情常
• 慣常／惯常 (guàncháng)
• 扯常
• 拘俗守常
• 拉家常 (lājiācháng)
• 據常／据常
• 改常
• 故常
• 敘家常／叙家常
• 敘常／叙常
• 敗常亂俗／败常乱俗
• 教無常師／教无常师
• 散騎常侍／散骑常侍
• 斷常／断常
• 旂常／旗常
• 旗常
• 日以為常／日以为常
• 日常 (rìcháng)
• 日常時／日常时
• 日常間／日常间
• 昇常／升常
• 時不常／时不常
• 時常／时常 (shícháng)
• 朝常
• 未常
• 棄常／弃常
• 棐常
• 棴常
• 正常 (zhèngcháng)
• 正常化 (zhèngchánghuà)
• 步伐異常／步伐异常
• 殊常
• 每常 (měicháng)
• 每常間／每常间
• 民常
• 泛常
• 泥常
• 泰常
• 流口常談／流口常谈
• 活無常／活无常
• 海州常山
• 無常／无常 (wúcháng)
• 無常鍾／无常钟
• 無常鐘／无常钟
• 照常 (zhàocháng)
• 率以為常／率以为常
• 率常
• 王常
• 玩常
• 玩故習常／玩故习常
• 異乎尋常／异乎寻常 (yìhūxúncháng)
• 異常／异常 (yìcháng)
• 異常行為／异常行为
• 白無常／白无常
• 百常
• 真常
• 知常
• 知足常樂／知足常乐 (zhīzúchánglè)
• 矯常／矫常
• 禍福無常／祸福无常
• 禍福靡常／祸福靡常
• 秉常
• 稀鬆平常／稀松平常
• 積以為常／积以为常
• 積習成常／积习成常
• 積習生常／积习生常
• 笑口常開／笑口常开
• 素常 (sùcháng)
• 經常／经常 (jīngcháng)
• 經常費／经常费
• 綱常／纲常 (gāngcháng)
• 綱常倫紀／纲常伦纪
• 綱常掃地／纲常扫地
• 習以為常／习以为常 (xíyǐwéicháng)
• 習常／习常
• 習故守常／习故守常
• 習為故常／习为故常
• 翻覆無常／翻覆无常
• 老生常談／老生常谈 (lǎoshēngchángtán)
• 老生常譚／老生常谭 (lǎoshēngchángtán)
• 脫離常軌／脱离常轨
• 舂常
• 舊常／旧常
• 良常
• 處常／处常
• 襲常／袭常
• 襲常綴瑣／袭常缀琐
• 話家常／话家常 (huà jiācháng)
• 語常／语常
• 變化無常／变化无常 (biànhuàwúcháng)
• 變古亂常／变古乱常
• 變古易常／变古易常
• 變常／变常
• 變幻無常／变幻无常
• 變故易常／变故易常
• 貴常／贵常
• 貴無常尊／贵无常尊
• 貴賤無常／贵贱无常
• 走無常／走无常
• 超常 (chāocháng)
• 趁常
• 越常
• 踏故習常／踏故习常
• 蹈常習故／蹈常习故
• 蹈常襲故／蹈常袭故 (dǎochángxígù)
• 蹈故習常／蹈故习常
• 蹈襲故常／蹈袭故常 (dǎoxígùcháng)
• 載常／载常
• 逆常
• 逆道亂常／逆道乱常
• 連常／连常
• 通常 (tōngcháng)
• 進退有常／进退有常
• 違常／违常 (wéicháng)
• 逾常
• 達常／达常
• 邁越常流／迈越常流
• 邏輯常項／逻辑常项
• 鎮常／镇常
• 閒常／闲常 (xiáncháng)
• 閑常／闲常 (xiáncháng)
• 閒話家常／闲话家常
• 隨常／随常 (suícháng)
• 雄常
• 雒常
• 非同尋常／非同寻常
• 非常 (fēicháng)
• 非常上訴／非常上诉
• 非常之事
• 非常之人
• 非常之功
• 非常審判／非常审判
• 非常時期／非常时期 (fēicháng shíqī)
• 非常總統／非常总统
• 非比尋常／非比寻常
• 靠常
• 靡常
• 頃常／顷常
• 順常／顺常
• 頒常／颁常
• 風月常新／风月常新
• 魂常
• 龍常／龙常

 

Pronunciation 2

• Southern Min (Hokkien, POJ): chhiâng

---

• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chhiâng
    • Tâi-lô: tshiâng
    • Phofsit Daibuun: chiaang
    • IPA (Xiamen): /t͡sʰiaŋ²⁴/
    • IPA (Quanzhou): /t͡sʰiaŋ²⁴/
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /t͡sʰiaŋ¹³/
    • IPA (Taipei): /t͡sʰiaŋ²⁴/
    • IPA (Kaohsiung): /t͡sʰiaŋ²³/

Definitions

常

1. (Southern Min) Only used in 常在.

Pronunciation 3

simp. and trad.		常
alternative forms		荍／荞

• Southern Min (Hokkien, POJ): siô

---

• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: siô
    • Tâi-lô: siô
    • Phofsit Daibuun: siooi
    • IPA (Xiamen): /sio²⁴/
    • IPA (Quanzhou): /sio²⁴/
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /sio¹³/
    • IPA (Taipei): /sio²⁴/
    • IPA (Kaohsiung): /siɤ²³/

Definitions

常

1. (Southern Min) indolent; sloppy

Compounds

• 常常 (Min Nan)
• 軟常常／软常常 (Min Nan)

 

References

• “常”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎^[1], 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–
• Dictionary of Chinese Character Variants (教育部異體字字典), A01175
• “Query for 常”, in 臺灣閩南語常用詞辭典 [Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwan Minnan] (overall work in Hokkien and Mandarin), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2023.

Japanese

Kanji

常

(Fifth grade kyōiku kanji)

1. eternal, unchanging
2. ordinary, usual
3. continuation
4. Hitachi Province

Readings

• Go-on: じょう (jō, Jōyō)^{←じやう (zyau, historical)}
• Kan-on: しょう (shō)^{←しやう (syau, historical)}
• Kun: きだ (kida, 常)、つね (tsune, 常, Jōyō)、とこ (toko, 常, Jōyō)、とことわ (tokotowa, 常)、とわ (towa, 常)
• Nanori: つら (tsura)、とき (toki)、ときわ (tokiwa)^{←ときは (tokifa, historical)}、のぶ (nobu)、ひ (hi)、ひさ (hisa)、ひさし (hisashi)、ひた (hita)

Compounds

• 常陸(ひたち) (Hitachi)

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
常
じょう Grade: 5
on'yomi

/d͡ʑau/ → /d͡ʑɔː/ → /d͡ʑoː/

From Middle Chinese 常 (MC dzyang).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) じょー [jóꜜò] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [d͡ʑo̞ː]

Adverb

常(じょう) • (jō) ^{←じやう (zyau)?}

1. (obsolete) always, constantly, consistently

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 常温(じょうおん) (jōon)
• 常(じょう)軌(き) (jōki)
• 常(じょう)時(じ) (jōji)
• 常識(じょうしき) (jōshiki)
• 常州(じょうしゅう) (Jōshū)
• 常習(じょうしゅう) (jōshū)
• 常人(じょうじん) (jōjin), 常人(じょうにん) (jōnin)
• 常体(じょうたい) (jōtai)
• 常態(じょうたい) (jōtai)
• 常任(じょうにん) (jōnin)
• 常磐(じょうばん) (Jōban)
• 常(じょう)備(び) (jōbi)
• 常(じょう)務(む) (jōmu)
• 常(じょう)夜(や) (jōya)
• 常用(じょうよう) (jōyō)
• 常緑(じょうりょく) (jōryoku)
• 異(い)常(じょう) (ijō)
• 経常(けいじょう) (keijō)
• 恒常(こうじょう) (kōjō)
• 綱常(こうじょう) (kōjō)
• 五(ご)常(じょう) (gojō)
• 尋常(じんじょう) (jinjō)
• 正常(せいじょう) (seijō)
• 通常(つうじょう) (tsūjō)
• 日常(にちじょう) (nichijō)
• 非(ひ)常(じょう) (hijō)
• 平常(へいじょう) (heijō)
• 無(む)常(じょう) (mujō)

Noun

常(じょう) • (jō) ^{←じやう (zyau)?}

1. a traditional Japanese unit of length, equal to one 丈 (jō, roughly three meters) and three 尺 (shaku, roughly one foot or thirty centimeters)

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
常
きだ Grade: 5
kun'yomi

*⟨ki₁da⟩ → */kʲida/ → /kida/

First attested in the Kojiki (712 CE).

Cognate with root kiza in 刻む (kizamu, “to mince; to slice; to cut a thing into pieces; to groove, to nick, to notch”).

Also sometimes read as kita.

Alternative forms

• 段

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [kʲida̠]

Noun

常(きだ) or 常(きた) • (kida or kita) 

1. (obsolete) a traditional Japanese unit of measure for the length of cut cloth, equal to one 丈 (jō, roughly three meters) and three 尺 (shaku, roughly one foot or thirty centimeters)
2. (obsolete) a traditional Japanese unit of measure for the area of an agricultural field or paddy, equal to either 360 歩 (bu, around 1190 square meters), later reduced to 300 歩 (bu)/坪 (tsubo, almost 992 square meters)

   Synonym: 段 (tan)

Counter

常(きだ) • (-kida) 

1. counter for cuts or strips of something

Etymology 3

Kanji in this term
常
つね Grade: 5
kun'yomi

/tune/ → /t͡sune/

From Old Japanese. Appears in the Man'yōshū, compiled around 759 CE. May be cognate with 綱 (tsuna, “thick rope; binding”), with underlying ideas of "connection, continuance".

Alternative forms

• 恒

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) つね [tsúꜜnè] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [t͡sɨne̞]

Adjective

常(つね) • (tsune) -na (adnominal 常(つね)な (tsune na), adverbial 常(つね)に (tsune ni))

1. (obsolete) eternal, permanent, consistent
2. (obsolete) normal, everyday, regular, usual, ordinary

   Synonyms: 普段 (fudan), 普通 (futsū), 平素 (heiso)

Usage notes

This appears as an adjective in older texts with the classical attributive form tsune naru. When used attributively in modern Japanese, this term is used with the particle の (no) instead:

• 常(つね)の人(ひと)

  tsune no hito

  everyday people, regular people

Modern Japanese does still use this term as an adverb, with particle に (ni):

• このカメラは常(つね)にオンになっている。

  Kono kamera wa tsune ni on ni natte iru.

  This camera is always on.

• あの会社(かいしゃ)はサービスが常(つね)に悪(わる)い。

  Ano kaisha wa sābisu ga tsune ni warui.

  That company has consistently bad service.

Derived terms

• 常体(つねたい) (tsunetai)
• 常々(つねづね) (tsunezune), 常常(つねづね) (tsunezune)
• 経常(けいつね) (keitsune)

Noun

常(つね) • (tsune) 

1. constancy, continuance
2. the ordinary, the everyday

Etymology 4

Kanji in this term
常
とこ Grade: 5
kun'yomi

⟨to₂ko₂⟩ → */təkə/ → /toko/

From Old Japanese. Possibly cognate with 時 (toki, “time”).

The way the term is used in the historical record suggests that this was originally a noun. (Can this⁽⁺⁾ etymology be sourced?) By the time of written Japanese, however, this term only appears in compounds, never on its own, and its usage is more as an adjective to modify other nouns.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [to̞ko̞]

Prefix

常(とこ) • (toko-) 

1. eternal, forever, unchanging, everlasting

Usage notes

Only used in compounds. Attaches to nouns and other nominals, often (but not always) with the now-obsolete possessive particle つ (tsu).

• 常(とこ)つ御(み)門(かど)、常(とこ)夏(なつ)、常(とこ)とわ

  toko tsu mikado, tokonatsu, tokotowa

  the eternal palace, eternal summer, eternal permanence [→ eternity]

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 常(とこ)し (tokoshi)
• 常(とこ)しえ (tokoshie)
• 常秋(とこあき) (tokoaki)
• 常(とこ)乙(おと)女(め) (toko otome)
• 常(とこ)つ国(くに) (toko tsu kuni)
• 常夏(とこなつ) (tokonatsu)
• 常春(とこはる) (tokoharu)
• 常冬(とこふゆ) (tokofuyu)
• 常闇(とこやみ) (tokoyami)
• 常(とこ)世(よ) (tokoyo)
• 常(とこ)夜(よ) (tokoyo)
• 常(とき)磐(わ) (tokiwa), 常(とき)盤(わ) (tokiwa)
• 常(とこ)葉(わ) (tokowa), 常(とき)葉(わ) (tokiwa)

Etymology 5

Kanji in this term
常
とことわ Grade: 5
kun'yomi

/tokotoba/ → /tokotowa/

From Old Japanese. Read as tokotoba until the Heian period.

Appears to be originally a compound of 常 (toko, “eternal”, see above) +‎ とわ (towa, “permanence, unchangingness”, from earlier とば toba).

This latter element is of unclear derivation. Some sources indicate that towa as an independent term arose as a contraction of earlier tokotoba, suggesting the possibility that toba was initially a compound of particles と (to, adverbial particle) + は (wa, formerly ba, even earlier pa; topic particle). However, other sources describe tokotowa as an intensified or emphatic form of towa.

Alternative forms

• 常とわ, 恒とわ, (rare) 永久

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) とことわ [tòkótówá] (Heiban – [0])
• (Tokyo) とことわ [tòkótóꜜwà] (Nakadaka – [3])
• IPA^(key): [to̞ko̞to̞β̞a̠]

Adjective

常(とことわ) • (tokotowa) ^{←とことは (tokotofa)?}-na (adnominal 常(とことわ)な (tokotowa na), adverbial 常(とことわ)に (tokotowa ni))

1. (archaic, rare) permanent, eternal

   Synonym: 常しえ (tokoshie)

2. (archaic, rare) usual, ordinary

   Synonym: 常 (tsune)

Usage notes

Listed in dictionaries as a 形容動詞 (keiyō dōshi, “-na adjective”). However, actual usage suggests that this was only used with particle に (ni) as an adverb, and never with particle な (na) or classical なる (naru) as an adjective. When this appears attributively, it is followed by particle の (no), the usual construction when using a noun to modify another noun.

Noun

常(とことわ) • (tokotowa) ^{←とことは (tokotofa)?}

1. (archaic, rare) permanence, eternity

   Synonym: 常しえ (tokoshie)

Etymology 6

Kanji in this term
常
とわ Grade: 5
kun'yomi

For pronunciation and definitions of 常 – see the following entry.

【とわ】 [adjective] constant, permanent, everlasting [noun] eternity [noun] constancy, permanence, everlastingness Alternative spellings 永遠, 永久

(This term, 常, is an alternative spelling of the above term.)

Korean

Etymology

From Middle Chinese 常 (MC dzyang).

Hanja

Wikisource

常 (eumhun 떳떳할 상 (tteottteothal sang))
常 (eumhun 항상 상 (hangsang sang))

1. hanja form^? of 상 (“honorable; righteous; upright; dignified”)
2. hanja form^? of 상 (“eternal; everlasting”)
3. hanja form^? of 상 (“constant; frequent”)

Compounds

Compounds

• 상객 (常客, sanggaek)
• 상궤 (常軌, sanggwe)
• 상규 (常規, sanggyu)
• 상도 (常道, sangdo)
• 상례 (常例, sangnye)
• 상례 (常禮, sangnye)
• 상리 (常理, sangni)
• 상무 (常務, sangmu)
• 상민 (常民, sangmin)
• 상반 (常班, sangban)
• 상복 (常服, sangbok)
• 상비 (常備, sangbi)
• 상설 (常設, sangseol)
• 상수 (常數, sangsu)
• 상습 (常習, sangseup)
• 상시 (常時, sangsi)
• 상식 (常識, sangsik)
• 상식 (常食, sangsik)
• 상임 (常任, sang'im)
• 상정 (常情, sangjeong)
• 상존 (常存, sangjon)
• 상주 (常住, sangju)
• 상태 (常態, sangtae)
• 상투 (常套, sangtu)
• 강상 (綱常, gangsang)
• 경상 (經常, gyeongsang)
• 괴상 (乖常, goesang)
• 기상 (旂常, gisang)
• 무상 (無常, musang)
• 반상 (班常, bansang)
• 비상 (非常, bisang)
• 심상 (尋常, simsang)
• 오상 (五常, osang)
• 윤상 (倫常, yunsang)
• 이상 (異常, isang)
• 일상 (日常, ilsang)
• 정상 (定常, jeongsang)
• 정상 (正常, jeongsang)
• 통상 (通常, tongsang)
• 평상 (平常, pyeongsang)
• 항상 (恒常, hangsang)
• 상록수 (常綠樹, sangnoksu)

References

• 국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會 大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典. [2]

Vietnamese

Han character

常: Hán Việt readings: thường (辰(thần)羊(dương)切(thiết))
常: Nôm readings: thường, sàn

1. chữ Hán form of thường (“frequent; usual”).
2. chữ Hán form of thường (“ordinary; common; average”).

Compounds

Compounds

• 常用 (thường dụng)
• 常常 (thường thường)
• 常川 (thường xuyên)
• 不常 (bất thường)
• 異常 (dị thường)
• 非常 (phi thường)
• 失常 (thất thường)
• 通常 (thông thường)
• 無常 (vô thường)