铜 tóng copper
copper; bronze
How to remember 铜: 钅 gold + 同 same = copper. The coin collector lays a gold coin beside one of the same size, but that one is brown and dull, just copper.
Component breakdown
铜 = 钅 gold + 同 same
- 钅 gold
- 同 same
- 冂 outer limits
- 𠮛 piled up
The coin collector lays a gold coin beside one of the same size, but that one is brown and dull, just copper.
How it is used
- The metal copper/bronze. 铜牌 (tóngpái) bronze medal (below 金牌 gold, 银牌 silver), 青铜器 (qīngtóngqì) ancient bronze artifacts.
- 铜 also stands in for money/coins in older words like 铜钱 (tóngqián) copper cash coins.