長

• Spatial: Physical length or distance.
• Temporal: Duration of time, permanence, or persistence.
• Biological and Developmental: To grow, mature, or come to fruition; an increase in size, number, or influence.
• Social and Hierarchical: An elder or the oldest member of a group; the head or leader of an organization.
• Evaluative: To excel or surpass.

• Attributive: Modifying a noun (e.g., long hair).
• Predicative: Describing a state ("the road is long") or a process ("he has grown").
• Nominal: Used as a title or descriptor ("the Elder," "the Chief").
• Verbal: To grow, increase, lead, or govern.

When the sense is ambiguous, check for accompanying antonyms:

• If 短 (short) appears, the meaning likely refers to physical length or temporal duration.
• If 幼 (young/small) appears, the meaning likely refers to age, seniority, or biological growth.

• Simplified variant: 长 (U+957F).

// Readings: There is a functional split in later readings between //cháng// (long/duration) and //zhǎng* (grow/elder), though both operate on a single semantic trajectory of extension.

In early texts, distinguish between authority derived from organic seniority (age/lineage) and authority derived from institutional appointment; compare with 領 (appointed lead).