撞

• Pinyin: zhuàng
• Hanzi breakdown: 撞 = 扌(hand) + 童 (child, phonetic) — to strike, bump

Meaning

To bump into; to collide; to crash. The action of hitting or running into something, either accidentally or forcefully.

Used for physical collisions of all kinds, from minor bumps to major crashes. Can also be used figuratively for encountering someone unexpectedly (撞见). The object hit usually follows directly.

Examples

1. 我不小心撞到了桌角，腿上青了一块。 I accidentally bumped into the corner of the table and got a bruise on my leg.
2. 那辆车闯红灯，差点撞到行人。 That car ran a red light and almost hit a pedestrian.
3. 他急着出门，结果撞上了玻璃门。 He was rushing out the door and ended up running into the glass door.

Usage Guide

Context: accidents, everyday, traffic

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 小心别撞到头！(Be careful not to bump your head!)
• 两辆车在路口相撞了。(Two cars collided at the intersection.)

Don't Say

• 说'撞球'表示打台球 (台球 or 桌球 is the standard term for billiards/pool in mainland China, though 撞球 is used in Taiwan)

Origin & History

Pictophonetic character: 扌(hand radical) indicates action, 童 (child) provides the sound.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal