張 means “stretch, spread, put up”

はる · haru

Also: counter for bows & stringed instruments, put up (tent)

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)
はる
On'yomi (Chinese reading)
チョウ

JLPT N1 · Taught in grade 5 · 11 strokes

The story

A bow (弓) beside long (長): drawing the string long and tight. 張る is to stretch or put up, like a tent, or ice forming over a pond, and it hides in everyday words: 頑張る is to hang in there, and 出張 is a business trip.

Used in 頑張る (ganbaru, to do one's best), 出張 (shucchou, business trip), and 主張 (shuchou, claim/assertion)

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Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.