# Chang

/ˈtʃæŋ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/chang
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. musical instrument

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a traditional musical instrument from Central Asia that is similar to a harp.

For teachers: a traditional angular harp common in Central and Southwest Asian musical traditions.

- The musician played a beautiful melody on the chang during the festival.
- Ethnomusicologists have documented several regional variations of the chang, noting its distinct role in the court music of historical Persian and Uzbek cultures.

Usage: The term is often used in academic or musicological contexts to describe specific historical harps.

### 2. family name

noun · CEFR A1

a common family name in countries like China and Korea.

For teachers: a common surname of Chinese or Korean origin, representing various distinct characters in the original languages.

- Mr. Chang is the new teacher at our language school.
- The research paper was co-authored by Professor Chang, a leading expert in the field of linguistics.

Usage: Capitalised as a proper noun.

## Examples

- Mr. Chang is our new science teacher.
- The local community center is hosting an art exhibition featuring several paintings by the artist David Chang.
- Historical records indicate that the Chang lineage has played a significant role in the administrative and cultural development of the region for several centuries.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.