常 (cháng) — constant; often; ordinary

entries → 常

TSUMUGU · TOCFL 1 (est.) · 字

常 character · TOCFL 1 (est.)

常＝尚＋巾

ㄔㄤˊ · cháng

adj/adv — constant; often; ordinary

字源 FORM — what the parts do

尚聲shàng — gives the sound

{zh,ch,sh}ITshàng → cháng — the {zh,ch,sh} crossing; tone shifts too

巾義a cloth

A cloth (巾) worn below the waist — the long skirt, the same word now written 裳. 尚 shàng carries the sound, sh worn to ch. The garment worn day after day: from it, constant (常常) and ordinary (平常).

故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by

那條布（巾）裙天天穿，洗了又曬，曬了又穿。

The cloth (巾) skirt worn every day — washed, dried, worn again.

字源記憶法

意 · Meanings

(本義)下裙（今寫作裳）— the lower garment — now written 裳

→常常、經常— constant; often常用

⇒平常、正常— ordinary — what holds steady

(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension