张
MW for flat objects (paper, tables, beds, tickets); to open/stretch; (surname)
zhāng
What does 张 mean?
张 (zhāng) is one of the most-used Chinese measure words. It counts flat or spread-out objects: 一张纸 ('a sheet of paper'), 一张桌子 ('a table'), 一张床 ('a bed'), 一张票 ('a ticket'), 一张地图 ('a map'), 一张照片 ('a photo'), 一张脸 ('a face'). The unifying image is something with a flat surface, whether thin (paper) or wide (table, bed). 张 also has a verb sense, 'to open / stretch open' — 张嘴 ('open one's mouth'), 张开眼睛 ('open one's eyes') — though this is more written than spoken.
Finally, 张 is one of the most common Chinese surnames (English-friendly transliteration 'Chang' or 'Zhang')
Character breakdown
to stretch open; measure word for flat objects; (surname)
Memory hook: 张 originally pictured stretching a bow open — flat, spread-out things get 张.
Example sentences
请给我一张纸。
Qǐng gěi wǒ yì zhāng zhǐ.
Please give me a sheet of paper.
spoken
我买了两张电影票。
Wǒ mǎi le liǎng zhāng diànyǐng piào.
I bought two movie tickets.
spoken
这张照片很漂亮。
Zhè zhāng zhàopiàn hěn piàoliang.
This photo is beautiful.
neutral
房间里有一张床和一张桌子。
Fángjiān lǐ yǒu yì zhāng chuáng hé yì zhāng zhuōzi.
There's a bed and a table in the room.
neutral
我姓张。
Wǒ xìng Zhāng.
My surname is Zhang.
spoken
Common phrases with 张
Synonyms
Don't confuse 张 with
章 means 'chapter' (第一章 'chapter one') or 'seal/stamp.' Same pinyin and tone as 张, but a different character. 张 is the measure word; 章 is the chapter.