举重
jǔ zhòng · HSK 7
weight-lifting
🏋️ 举 (lift) + 重 (heavy) = lift the heavy = weight-lifting
举 means to raise or lift up; 重 means heavy or weight. Together they spell out the sport literally: lifting heavy things. The same 重 shows up in 重要 (important = heavy + need).
举 — hands 𠆢 + give 与 (simplified from 擧)
Originally written 擧, showing hands (手) lifting something together with the phonetic 與 'together'. The simplified form 举 keeps the idea of many hands raising up. Core meaning 'to lift, raise' extended to 'to launch, propose, hold (an event)'.
重 — person 人 + east 東 (phonetic)
Originally depicted a person carrying a heavy bundle on their back, suggesting weight and burden. The 東-like element served as a phonetic component. Over time the character split into two readings: zhòng meaning 'heavy' and chóng meaning 'repeat/again'.