尝 meaning and stroke order
To taste; to experience (variant of 嘗|尝[chang2])
How to write 尝, stroke by stroke
9 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 尝
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to taste; to try (food)
- to experience
- (literary) ever; once
- to taste; to experience (variant of 嘗|尝[chang2])
- old variant of 嘗|尝[chang2]
How 尝 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Speak.
云 gives the meaning and 尚 hints at the sound.
Radical: ⺌ (), shared by 4 characters on this site.
How to remember 尝
The top looks like 尚 (shàng), which gives the sound, and the bottom is 云, which here carries the idea of speaking. Picture someone taking a bite and then saying what they think of it: that is tasting.
On its own, 尝 is most often used for tasting food, usually as 尝尝 or 尝一下 to sound casual. In compounds it broadens to trying or experiencing, as in 尝试 (chángshì) and 品尝 (pǐncháng). Example: 你尝尝这个汤。(Nǐ chángchang zhège tāng.) Try this soup.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 尝 (cháng, to taste) with 常 (cháng, often), since they share the same top and the same sound. Remember that 常 has 巾 at the bottom, while 尝 has 云.
Common words with 尝
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
尝 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 尝
Learning 尝 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 尝
How many strokes are in 尝?
尝 is written with 9 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 尝 mean?
尝 (cháng) means to taste; to experience (variant of 嘗|尝[chang2]). A common word with it is 尝试 (chángshì), meaning "to try (to see what it's like or whether one can do it)".
How do you pronounce 尝?
尝 is pronounced cháng, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 尝?
The radical of 尝 is ⺌. Dictionaries list 尝 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 尝?
The traditional form of 尝 is 嘗, 嚐 and 甞. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 尝 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 尝 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 尝 is part of the HSK 5 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 3.
What is the difference between 尝试 and 试试?
Both mean to try, but 尝试 (chángshì) is more formal and often used for attempting new methods or experiences. 试试 (shìshi) is casual and common in everyday speech, like trying on clothes or trying something quickly.
What does 未尝 mean?
In literary Chinese, 尝 can mean ever or once, so 未尝 (wèicháng) means never or not necessarily. For example, 未尝不可 (wèicháng bù kě) means it is not impossible, or why not.