Chenle
Chenle in December 2023
Born	Zhong Chenle (2001-11-22)22 November 2001 (age 23) Shanghai, China
Occupations	Singer actor
Years active	2009–present
Musical career
Genres	K-pop Mandopop Children's
Instruments	Vocals Piano
Labels	SM
Member of	NCT NCT Dream SM Town
Formerly of	0090 Zeke & The Kiddos
Website	Official website
Musical artist
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	鍾辰樂
Simplified Chinese	钟辰乐
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Zhōng Chénlè Southern Min HokkienPOJ Chiong sîn-ga̍k
Korean name
Hangul	종진락
Transcriptions Revised Romanization Jong Jin-rak McCune–Reischauer Chong Chinrak

Zhong Chenle (Chinese:钟辰乐; born 22 November 2001),^[1] known mononymously asChenle (Hangul: 천러), is a Chinese singer and actor based in South Korea. Chenle began his career as a child singer, having performed in various concerts and television shows in China and abroad. At age nine, he became the youngest singer to be invited to perform solo at theGolden Hall of Vienna.^[2] Through his solo career, Chenle has released three albums and hosted one concert in China. At the age of fourteen, Chenle signed with South Korean entertainment companySM Entertainment and subsequently moved to South Korea in 2016 to debut as a member of the South Korean boy bandNCT through its fixed sub-unitNCT Dream, which has gone on to become one of the best-selling boy groups in South Korea.

Zhong Chenle was born inShanghai, China on 22 November 2001. He has an older brother by 13 years.^[3] He attended Shangwen Middle School before moving to Korea. He was later enrolled at the Beijing Contemporary Music School, graduating as part of the class of 2020.^[4]

In 2006, Chenle entered the Shanghai Ying Siu Sing School and attended dance classes. In 2008, he was admitted to the Shanghai Little Star Art Troupe and studied vocal music under Huang Jing.^[5]

In 2009, Chenle participated in the Haha children's channel held by Yueyue Elf Vs Season Trial, where he was runner-up and won the Elf Genie Award.^{[citation needed]} Chenle first rose to prominence in 2010 participating inChina's Got Talent, performing the song "Memory" fromAndrew Lloyd Webber's musicalCats.^[6] In 2010, he participated in the National Chinese Young Talent Selection and won a gold medal.^{[citation needed]} In 2010, Chenle made television appearances as part of the duo 0090, made up of himself and Xu Zehui, both coming from the Shanghai Little Star Art Troupe.^[7]

In September 2010, Chenle signed a record deal with Lin Teng Culture Media.^[8][9] He released three albums with them.^[10]

On 25 January 2011, at age nine, Chenle was invited to perform at the Chinese New Year concert held atGolden Hall of Vienna; at the time, he was the youngest singer to have performed as a soloist at the venue.^[11][2] In June, Chenle played the co-lead role in the children's musicalJoy of Growing Up, alongside fellowChina's Got Talent auditionee Zhang Aiqing.^[12] On 16 June, Chenle led the audience in singing theChinese national anthem at the second Nie Er Music Week opening ceremony in theShanghai Grand Theater.^{[citation needed]} In July, Chenle released his twelve-track second solo album,My Wings. At the end of the month and in August, he participated in the opening and closing ceremonies of the Shanghai International Children's Art Festival on the Shanghai Grand Stage at theShanghai International Convention Center.^{[citation needed]}

In December 2012, Chenle participated in the First Plenary Session of the Huangpu District of Shanghai and was elected as the district director for theYoung Pioneers.^[13]

In 2013, Chenle participated in the first season ofLet's Sing Kids, as part ofYang Zongwei's team.^[14][15] His first known minor acting role was in 2013, when he featured in Chinese dramaThe Queen of SOP 2 at age 11.^{[citation needed]}

In 2014, Chenle held his first solo concert, Music With You, at theShanghai Concert Hall.^[16][5] He consequently released his concert album, of the same name,Music With You, that same year. Chenle joined the World Organization of Rising Leading Diplomats, headquartered inWashington, D.C., founded and presided over by pianist-songwriter-producer Ezekiel Palmieri, representing China as a young cultural diplomat. He served as Chinese Ambassador at an international multicultural show created by Palmieri at theTeatro Coliseo,Buenos Aires on 15 and 16 August 2014;^[17] he performed "The Dragon's Romance", a song Palmieri wrote specifically for him.^{[citation needed]}

Throughout 2015, Chenle would participate as a performing member of the "Chinese Cultural Paradise" outstanding student troupe, visiting multiple countries including South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.^{[18][19][20][21]}

During his time as a child entertainer in China he would record and perform manycover songs, including many fromDeclan Galbraith.^[2]

After being given a casting offer by SM Entertainment in 2015, Chenle signed to SM Entertainment in March 2016.^[22] In August 2016, at age 14, Chenle would make his debut as a member ofNCT Dream, a sub-unit ofNCT.^[23]

On 20 May 2020, Chenle and Renjun's graduation song "A New Beginning" was released by Beijing Contemporary Music Academy on Chinese sites.^[24] Chenle hosted TBS eFM 101.3 MHz'sYuedong Seoul, a Chinese-language radio show, from 12 October 2020 to 12 September 2021.^[25][26] Chenle'sNCT U debut was marked by the release of NCT's two-part second studio album,NCT 2020 Resonance, featuring on the single "From Home".^[27]

In February 2021, Chenle featured on the song "Too Good" from IMLAY's fourth EPUtopia.^[28] In March 2022 it was announced that Chenle had suffered an ankle injury in the run-up to NCT Dream'sGlitch Mode promotions, which he ultimately chose to participate in in a limited capacity.^[29] On 6 December 2023, Chenle released his first self-produced song "Marine Turtle" by NCT U as part of theNCT Lab project.^[30] In January 2024, Chenle participated in "Do It (Let's Play)", the official theme song for theNCT Zone mobile game, with fellow NCT membersJungwoo, Xiaojun,Jeno, and Yangyang.^[31] On 31 May 2024, it was announced that Chenle would be participating in the OST for the Chinese dramaThe Double, with the ending theme, "Live and Love".^[32][33]

In May 2017, Chenle together with fellow NCT Dream member Renjun volunteered with CJ Dream Classroom inNanjing.^[34] CJ Dream Classroom in Nanjing is part of a global social contribution program providing better cultural arts education opportunities for children of Chinese labourers.^[35]

In 2019, Chenle went viral for hisinstant ramen recipe, coined by the Korean media as "Chenle Ramen" and has also been covered by international outlets.^[36][37][38] The viral recipe which includes the addition ofLao Gan Ma sauce, has been seen as being part of amala trend in Korea.^[36]

All credits are adapted from theKorea Music Copyright Association, unless cited otherwise.^[43]

Year	Song	Artist(s)	Album	Lyricist	Composer
2020	"A New Beginning"(新的开始)[C]	Himself and Renjun	Non-album single
2023	"Like We Just Met"	NCT Dream	ISTJ
	"蓝洋海龟 (Marine Turtle)" (Chinese & Korean ver.)	NCT U	SM Station: NCT Lab

• Music With You (2014)

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• 2001 births
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• Singers from Shanghai
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• NCT (group) members
• Male actors from Shanghai
• 21st-century Chinese male actors

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