Homographs (多音字，duō yīn zì, literally "multiple-sound characters") are Chinese characters that have two or more pronunciations, with each pronunciation corresponding to a different meaning or usage.
Characteristics of Homographs
Different Pronunciations, Different Meanings
A single character can have multiple pronunciations, each representing a distinct meaning.
Example:
- 长 (cháng): Refers to length, e.g., "长城" (Chángchéng, Great Wall).
- 长 (zhǎng): Refers to growing, e.g., "成长" (chéngzhǎng, growth).
Context-Sensitive Usage
The pronunciation changes depending on the context or the word it appears in.
Example:
- 行 (háng): Refers to a row or profession, e.g., "银行" (yínháng, bank).
- 行 (xíng): Means "to be okay," e.g., "行不行" (xíng bù xíng, is it okay?).
Common Homographs and Their Usage
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 重 | zhòng | Refers to weight or seriousness | 重量 (zhòngliàng, weight) |
| chóng | Means "again" or "repeat" | 重复 (chóngfù, repeat) | |
| 乐 | lè | Refers to happiness or enjoyment | 快乐 (kuàilè, happy) |
| yuè | Refers to music | 音乐 (yīnyuè, music) | |
| 难 | nán | Means "difficult" | 难题 (nántí, difficult problem) |
| nàn | Refers to disaster or misfortune | 灾难 (zāinàn, disaster) | |
| 还 | hái | Means "still" or "yet" | 我还没做完 (Wǒ hái méi zuò wán, I haven’t finished yet) |
| huán | Means "to return" | 还书 (huán shū, return the book) | |
| 空 | kōng | Refers to emptiness or space | 空气 (kōngqì, air) |
| kòng | Refers to free time | 空闲时间 (kòngxián shíjiān, free time) | |
| 当 | dāng | Means "to act as" or "at the time" | 当时 (dāngshí, at that time) |
| dàng | Refers to "appropriate" or "regard as" | 适当 (shìdàng, appropriate) |
Tips for Learning Homographs
Understand the Context
Use the context of the sentence to determine the correct pronunciation and meaning.
Learn Common Words
Familiarize yourself with common phrases and words where homographs are frequently used.
Use a Dictionary
Look up the character if unsure about its pronunciation or meaning.
Practice
Try identifying the correct pronunciation of the homographs in these sentences:
- 我今天要去银行办理业务。
- 你的答案很难让人满意。
- 这个房间有点空。
- 他答应重新来过。
With consistent learning and practice, you'll master homographs and their diverse usages in no time!