counter for bows & stringed instruments, stretch, spread, put up (tent)
張 centers on extending something under tension: stretching a bowstring, spreading a net, or putting up a tent. The counter use for bows and stringed instruments comes from the same idea of stringing or stretching.
張 combines 弓 (bow) with 長 (long), suggesting the action of drawing a bow long or stretching it. The modern form preserves this component relationship clearly.
A bow 弓 is drawn long 長, stretching the string tight. This stretching action applies to spreading things out, putting up tents, and even counting bows and stringed instruments.
For チョウ, picture a long bow being stretched by a chief named Chou: Chou -> チョウ, and he pulls the bowstring back to its full length.
to persevere; to persist; to keep at it; to hang on; to hold out; to do one's best
claim; insistence; assertion; advocacy; emphasis; contention; opinion; tenet
to stick; to paste; to affix
tension; strain; nervousness; stress
expansion; extension; enlargement
business trip; official trip
in the style of (esp. literary, artistic, etc. works); reminiscent of
to pull; to draw; to pull tight
expansion; swelling; increase; growth
stretching a rope around; roping off; cordoning off; demarcation
exaggeration
originator; ringleader; perpetrator; main culprit; person responsible
watch; guard; lookout; surveillance; watchman; sentinel
greed; avarice; covetousness; greedy person
paper patch attached to something; paper backing; sticker; label
to stand watch; to stand guard; to look out
branch office; agency; sub-branch
glazing; fitting with glass
to be greedy; to be avaricious; to want badly; to desire intensely; to covet
to put on airs; to act big; to throw one's weight about; to be overbearing; to be domineering; to be bossy; to be pushy; to be proud; to be haughty; to be arrogant; to swagger; to boast; to brag
prop; strut; support; brace; bar
to brace one's legs; to stand firm; to plant one's feet (firmly on the ground)
to be in high spirits; to be full of vigor (vigour); to be enthusiastic; to be eager; to stretch to breaking point
to project; to overhang; to stick out; to jut out; to overlie