钟 (zhōng): clock

Measure Word

一座钟 zuò

Meanings

1 clock
2 bell
3 time (in minutes)

Characters

钟

zhōng

clock; bell

Contains the metal radical 钅, since bells and clocks are traditionally made of metal.

Examples

现在几点钟了？

Xiànzài jǐ diǎn zhōng le?

What time is it now?

墙上挂着一座钟。

Qiángshàng guà zhe yí zuò zhōng.

There's a clock hanging on the wall.

五分钟以后出发。

Wǔ fēnzhōng yǐhòu chūfā.

We'll depart in five minutes.

Tips

usage

分钟 = minute. 小时 = hour. 点钟 = o'clock. 钟头 = hour (colloquial).

Components

radical

钅 jīn

metal; gold

Metal radical on the left — the simplified left-side form of 金 (a roof above metal nuggets in earth). It supplies meaning: 钟 is a metal bell or a clock cast from metal. Same radical heads the broader metals/tools family: 钢 (steel), 银 (silver), 铁 (iron), 钱 (money) — anything cast or forged.

phonetic

中 zhōng

middle; center

中 (zhōng) supplies the sound exactly, no tone shift. This is the simplified swap-in for the much busier 童 (in 鐘) and 重 (in 鍾). Same phonetic family: 仲 (middle of three brothers), 忠 (loyal). The image — a banner pierced by a vertical mast — has no semantic role here; pure sound.