双重
shuāngchóng · HSK 7
dual
👯 双 (pair) + 重 (chóng = layer/fold) = a double layer; twofold
双 means a pair or two of something; 重 read chóng means a layer or fold, as in stacked repeats. Together they describe something doubled up: dual, twofold, two layers of the same thing.
双 — two 又 (right hands) side by side
Originally written 雙 with two 隹 (short-tailed birds) over 又 (hand), depicting a pair of birds held in one hand, hence 'pair' or 'two'. The modern simplified form 双 keeps just two 又 hands side by side as a visual shorthand for 'a pair'. Meaning broadened to 'double' or 'even-numbered'.
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'.