How to Write 朁 (cǎn) — Meaning “(Archaic) Once / how”

Imagine the top part 曰 as a person saying something, and the bottom part looks like a person shrugging and asking 'how?'. Since 朁 sounds like 'can' in English, think of the phrase 'How can it be?' to link the meaning of 'how' to the character's sound and shape.

Start by writing the top radical 曰 with four strokes (vertical, horizontal, horizontal, bottom horizontal). Then write the bottom part carefully: it has 8 strokes and should not be confused with the bottom of 曹 (which is another 曰 ). A common mistake is adding an extra horizontal line or making the bottom too wide—keep it narrow and balanced.

Visually, 朁 has a top radical 曰 and a bottom part that is not another 曰 (unlike 曹, which has two 曰 stacked). 曼 has a middle component 冖 and a bottom 又, while 朁's bottom is narrower with left and right strokes. In meaning, 朁 is archaic for 'once/how', 曹 is a surname or 'class', and 曼 means 'extend' or 'graceful'.

朁 is extremely rare in modern Chinese and appears only in classical texts or ancient poetry, such as in the phrase 朁不 (meaning 'how not'). Unless you are studying classical Chinese or historical literature, you will not encounter this character in everyday language. Its cultural significance lies in preserving archaic expressions.

Common words containing 朁 include: 朁不 (cǎn bù) — (Archaic) How not / why not; 朁或 (cǎn huò) — (Archaic) Perhaps / maybe; 朁然 (cǎn rán) — (Archaic) Suddenly / in a flash.