chēng
prop; support; push with a pole; keep up; unfurl; brace; stay
他撑着伞在雨中行走。
tā chēngzhe sǎn zài yǔ zhōng xíngzǒu.
He walked in the rain with an umbrella.
我们撑起帐篷，在海边露营。
wǒmen chēngqǐ zhàngpéng, zài hǎibiān lùyíng.
We set up a tent and camped by the sea.
他撑着船桨，在河里划船。
tā chēngzhe chuánjiǎng, zài hé lǐ huáchuán.
He rowed a boat in the river with an oar.
倒 (dǎo)
fall
塌 (tā)
collapse
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The Chinese character 撑 (chēng) is composed of two parts: the radical 木 (mù) and the phonetic component 充 (chōng). The radical 木 indicates that the character is related to wood or trees, while the phonetic component 充 suggests the pronunciation of the character.The original meaning of 撑 is "to support" or "to prop up". This can be seen in the way the character is constructed: the radical 木 represents the support, while the phonetic component 充 suggests the action of pushing or propping up.Over time, the meaning of 撑 has expanded to include other related concepts, such as "to hold up", "to bear", "to endure", and "to withstand". For example, the phrase 撑伞 (chēng sǎn) means "to hold an umbrella", while the phrase 撑杆跳 (chēng gǎn tiào) means "to pole vault".The character 撑 can also be used in a figurative sense. For example, the phrase 撑面子 (chēng miànzi) means "to save face" or "to maintain one's dignity".In addition to its literal and figurative meanings, 撑 can also be used as a surname. The surname 撑 is relatively rare, but it is found in some parts of China.
