# Chenle

Zhong Chenle (Chinese: 钟辰乐; born 22 November 2001), known mononymously as Chenle (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 the Golden Hall of Vienna. 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 company SM Entertainment and subsequently moved to South Korea in 2016 to debut as a member of the South Korean boy band NCT through its fixed sub-unit NCT Dream, which has gone on to become one of the best-selling boy groups in South Korea.

## Early life and education

Zhong Chenle was born in Shanghai, China on 22 November 2001. He has an older brother by 13 years. 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.
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.

## Career
### 2009–2015: Early solo career in China

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. Chenle first rose to prominence in 2010 participating in China's Got Talent, performing the song "Memory" from Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Cats. In 2010, he participated in the National Chinese Young Talent Selection and won a gold medal. 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.
In September 2010, Chenle signed a record deal with Lin Teng Culture Media. He released three albums with them.
On 25 January 2011, at age nine, Chenle was invited to perform at the Chinese New Year concert held at Golden Hall of Vienna; at the time, he was the youngest singer to have performed as a soloist at the venue. In June, Chenle played the co-lead role in the children's musical Joy of Growing Up, alongside fellow China's Got Talent auditionee Zhang Aiqing. On 16 June, Chenle led the audience in singing the Chinese national anthem at the second Nie Er Music Week opening ceremony in the Shanghai Grand Theater. 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 the Shanghai International Convention Center.
In December 2012, Chenle participated in the First Plenary Session of the Huangpu District of Shanghai and was elected as the district director for the Young Pioneers.
In 2013, Chenle participated in the first season of Let's Sing Kids, as part of Yang Zongwei's team. His first known minor acting role was in 2013, when he featured in Chinese drama The Queen of SOP 2 at age 11.
In 2014, Chenle held his first solo concert, Music With You, at the Shanghai Concert Hall. 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 in Washington, 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 the Teatro Coliseo, Buenos Aires on 15 and 16 August 2014; he performed "The Dragon's Romance", a song Palmieri wrote specifically for him.
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.
During his time as a child entertainer in China he would record and perform many cover songs, including many from Declan Galbraith.

### 2016–present: Debut with NCT and NCT Dream

After being given a casting offer by SM Entertainment in 2015, Chenle signed to SM Entertainment in March 2016. In August 2016, at age 14, Chenle would make his debut as a member of NCT Dream, a sub-unit of NCT.
On 20 May 2020, Chenle and Renjun's graduation song "A New Beginning" was released by Beijing Contemporary Music Academy on Chinese sites. Chenle hosted TBS eFM 101.3 MHz's Yuedong Seoul, a Chinese-language radio show, from 12 October 2020 to 12 September 2021. Chenle's NCT U debut was marked by the release of NCT's two-part second studio album, NCT 2020 Resonance, featuring on the single "From Home".
In February 2021, Chenle featured on the song "Too Good" from IMLAY's fourth EP Utopia. In March 2022 it was announced that Chenle had suffered an ankle injury in the run-up to NCT Dream's Glitch Mode promotions, which he ultimately chose to participate in in a limited capacity. On 6 December 2023, Chenle released his first self-produced song "Marine Turtle" by NCT U as part of the NCT Lab project. In January 2024, Chenle participated in "Do It (Let's Play)", the official theme song for the NCT Zone mobile game, with fellow NCT members Jungwoo, Xiaojun, Jeno, and Yangyang. On 31 May 2024, it was announced that Chenle would be participating in the OST for the Chinese drama The Double, with the ending theme, "Live and Love".

## Philanthropy

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

## Public image

In 2019, Chenle went viral for his instant ramen recipe, coined by the Korean media as "Chenle Ramen" and has also been covered by international outlets. The viral recipe which includes the addition of Lao Gan Ma sauce, has been seen as being part of a mala trend in Korea.

## Discography
### Studio albums

| Title | Album details | Track listing |
| Tomorrow | Released: 2010 Label: Lin Teng Culture Media Format: CD | List "郊遊Party" "海寶Let's Show" "Tomorrow" "巧克力王" "蝴蝶飛呀" "練字謠" "夢的眼睛" "輪滑小將" "Edelweiss" (雪絨花) (with Huang Jing) "等我長大來當王" "最美的畫" "Tell Me Why" "最好的未来" "夢的眼睛"(Instrumental) "郊遊Party" (Instrumental) |
| My Wings | Released: June 2011 Label: Lin Teng Culture Media Format: CD, DVD | List "Memory" "我的翅膀" "You Raise Me Up" "蝸牛" "It All Begins With Love" "Tell Me Why" "和你在一起" "閃亮全世界" "Danny Boy" "蝴蝶飛呀" "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" "Music Boy" |
* ↑ Adapted from album liner notes.
* ↑ Adapted from album liner notes.

### Concert albums

| Title | Album details | Track listing |
| Music With You | Released: October 2014 Label: Lin Teng Culture Media Format: CD, DVD | List Concert setlist: "Memory" "最好的未來" (with Huang Jing) "和你在一起" (with Xu Zehui) Joy of Growing Up Medley (with Zhang Aiqing) "Speak Softly Love" (with Xiao Wei) Xiao Wei Piano Solo "蝸牛" "可惜不是你" "Hey Jude" "风吹麦浪" (with Niu Xinxin) "闪亮全世界" (with Wu Qian) "雪人" ((with Gu Zhe) "坚强的孩子" (with Li Jianhui) "爱的代价" (Li Jianhui solo) "Goodbye" "One Voice" "喜歡上海話" (Zhang Zhilin solo) "Tell Me Why" "我的翅膀" (電影《心曲》花絮剪輯) "Music Boy" "燭光裡的媽媽" "父親" "乐有你在" |

### Singles
#### As lead artist

| Title | Year | Album |
| "I Also Have a Chinese Dream" (我也有个中国梦) (with Su Yuhan, Yang Yiyuan, Chen Sini, Zhou Zhangchi & Wu Qian) | 2014 | — |

#### As featured artist

| Title | Year | Album |
| "Too Good" (IMLAY featuring Chenle) | 2021 | Utopia |

#### Soundtrack appearances

| Title | Year | Album | Notes |
| "Childhood Companion" (童年做伴) | 2012 | — | Opening theme forYu Qilin Story Club |
| "Travel the Wind" (随风旅行) | 2012 | — | Ending theme for Yu Qilin Story Club |
| "Don't Be Afraid" (不要怕) | c. 2012 | Monsters Wanted OST | |
| "Live and Love" (活下去爱下去) | 2024 | The Double OST | Ending theme for The Double |

#### Non-single appearances

List of appearances, with selected chart positions, showing album name and year released :
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
| Title | Year | KOR | Album |
| "The Dragon's Romance" (El Romance del Dragón) (with Zeke & The Kiddos) | 2014 | — | Wunderkindz |
| "Best Day Ever" (with Haechan and Jisung) | 2018 | — | DreamWorks Trolls X SM STATION |
| "Snow Dream 2021" (with Yeri, Haechan, Jisung and Ningning) | 2021 | — | 2021 Winter SM Town: SMCU Express |
| "Where You Are" (넌 어디에) (with Ryeowook, Onew, Doyoung, and Xiaojun) | 2022 | — | 2022 Winter SM Town: SMCU Palace |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. ||||

#### Other songs

| Title | Year | Notes |
| "Strong Children" | 2012 | |
| "An Angel" | 2012 | Shenzhen TV's The Mysterious Baby Mid-Autumn Festival Concert with Rice premiere |
| "A New Beginning" (新的开始) | 2020 | Graduation song co-written and recorded with NCT's Renjun |
| "蓝洋海龟 (Marine Turtle)" | 2023 | single by NCT U, sung with Kun, Xiaojun, and Renjun |

#### Music videos

| Title | Year |
| "My Wings" (我的翅膀) | c. 2011 |
| "Don't Be Afraid" (不要怕) (with Li Zewei and Liu Bo) | 2012 |
| "You Raise Me Up" (with Li Zewei and Liu Bo) | 2013 |
| "The Wind That Shakes the Barley" (风吹麦浪) (with Niu Xinxin) | 2013 |

### Songwriting credits

All credits are adapted from the Korea Music Copyright Association, unless cited otherwise.
| Year | Song | Artist(s) | Album |
| 2020 | "A New Beginning" (新的开始) | Himself and Renjun | Non-album single |
| 2023 | "Like We Just Met" | NCT Dream | ISTJ |
| 2023 | "蓝洋海龟 (Marine Turtle)" (Chinese & Korean ver.) | NCT U | SM Station: NCT Lab |

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| 2013 | Soul Rhythm (靈魂的節奏) | Fu Xiaojun | | |
| 2014 | A Candy for Mother (掌心的糖果) | LeLe | Short film | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| 2013 | The Queen of SOP 2 (勝女的代價2) | Xiao Nan | Episodes 1 & 17 | |
| 2013 | Bund Police (外滩警事) | Yiming | Episode 22 | |

### Variety show

| Year | English Title | Native Title | Role | Notes |
| 2009 | Yinyue Elf Vocal Season Selection Competition | 音悦精灵声乐赛季选拔赛 | Contestant | |
| 2010 | China's Got Talent | 中国达人秀 | Contestant | Season 1, featured during the auditions round. |
| 2012 | Talented Children's Voice | 天才童声 | Contestant | |
| 2012 | Childlike Innocence Hits the Earth | 童心撞地球 | DuoDuo | |
| 2012 | Table Plan | 同桌计划 | Guest panelist | |
| 2012 | Sound One Team | 天声一队 | Regular | |
| 2012 | Beware 00 | 小心00后 | Featured guest | Performing the song "Amazing Grace" |
| 2013 | Super Voice | 超级童声 | Judge | |
| 2013 | Let's Sing Kids | 中国新声代 | Contestant | Season 1 |
| 2018 | One Night Sleepover Trip | | Featured guest | Episode 14 |
| 2019 | The Show | | Guest host | 2019 Pohang K-Pop Concert |
| 2024 | LeeMujin Service | | Featured guest | Episode 107 |

### Radio

| Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
| 2020–2021 | Yuedong Seoul | Host | |

## Concerts and live performances
### Concerts

* Music With You (2014)

### Theatre

| Year | Title | Native Title | Role | Venue | Notes |
| 2010 | Happy Childhood | 快乐童年 | Unknown | Unknown | Musical |
| 2011 | Joy of Growing Up | 成长的快乐 | Forest Prince | Shanghai Children's Art Theatre | Musical |
| 2014 | Wunderkindz | Wunderkindz | Lele | Teatro Coliseo | Musical, performing as part of Zeke & The Kiddos |

## Awards and nominations

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, award category, nominee(s) of the award, and the result of the nomination :
| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee / Work | Result | Ref. |
| Weibo Music Awards | 2023 | Recommended Popular Artist of the Year | Himself | Won | |
Other awards and accolades :
| Year | Award | Result |
| 2009 | Yueyue Elf Vs Season Trial "Elf Genie Award" | Won |
| 2010 | National Outstanding Students Competition | Won |
| 2010 | National Award For Young Talents in China | Won |
| 2012 | Director for Huangpu District Young Pioneers | Won |