張

Also used as a common Chinese and Korean surname.

Phono-semantic compound composed of:

弓 (“bow”) — semantic element, representing tension, stretching, or drawing.

長 (“long, extended”) — phonetic element, provides the sound zhāng / jang and reinforces the idea of lengthening.

Together, they depict a bow being drawn taut, signifying “to stretch or extend.”

This concrete action was later generalized to spreading, displaying, and expanding.

緊張 (긴장) — tension, nervousness (“tight stretching”)

誇張 (과장) — exaggeration, overstatement

張力 (장력) — tensile strength, tension

張開 (장개) — to open up, to spread open

張貼 (장첩) — to post or stick (on a wall)

擴張 (확장) — expansion, enlargement

張揚 (장양) — to make known, to publicize (lit. spread out)

Because its semantic root is the bow, 張 evokes ideas of control under tension — effort held in readiness.

It symbolizes active restraint, preparedness, and projection — qualities valued in Confucian and military metaphors alike.

《論語》: 「張而不弛，文武之道也。」

“To stretch without relaxing — that is the Way of Wen and Wu.”

(Confucius here uses 張 metaphorically for maintaining balanced tension in virtue and discipline.)

As a surname (성씨 張):

One of the most common surnames in Korea, China, and Japan.

In ancient China, associated with archery clans (reflecting the character’s meaning “to draw a bow”).

Korean: 장 (Jang).

Japanese On-yomi: チョウ (Chō); Kun-yomi: haru (as in 張る “to stretch”).