Overview
The character 张 (zhāng) is commonly used both as a Chinese surname and as a measure word for flat, thin objects such as paper, tickets, or tables. When used as a surname, it is pronounced with the first tone and capitalized in English contexts. As a measure word, it precedes nouns like 票 (tickets), 桌子 (tables), or 表格 (forms).
Usage as a Measure Word
张 is one of the most frequent measure words for flat items. It is used to count things that are generally thin and flat, such as sheets of paper, tickets, or tables. For example, 两张票 means "two tickets." This usage is very common in everyday conversation and formal contexts.
Usage as a Surname
张 is a very common Chinese surname. When used as a surname, it is often followed by a title or a given name, such as 张先生 (Mr. Zhang). It is important to distinguish this use from the measure word by context.
Common Collocations
- 两张票 (liǎng zhāng piào): two tickets
- 这张桌子 (zhè zhāng zhuōzi): this table
- 张先生 (Zhāng xiānsheng): Mr. Zhang
- 一张照片 (yī zhāng zhàopiàn): a photo
Tips
Be careful not to confuse 张 as a measure word with other measure words for flat objects like 片 (piàn) which is used for slices or pieces. 张 specifically counts whole flat objects. When used as a surname, it is always a proper noun and capitalized in English. The tone is always first tone (zhāng).