重新
chóngxīn · HSK 2
over again
🔄 重 (again) + 新 (new) = anew, afresh
Compound of 重 chóng 'again, repeat' and 新 xīn 'new'. Together they mean doing something newly or starting fresh. Note 重 is read chóng here (again), not zhòng (heavy).
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'.
新 — 立 stand + 木 tree + 斤 axe
Originally depicted cutting fresh wood with an axe (斤) from a tree (木), with 辛/立 as the phonetic component. The original meaning of 'firewood' was later written as 薪, while 新 took on the extended sense of 'new' or 'fresh'.