How to Write 藏 (cáng/zàng) — Meaning “To hide / To store / Tibet”

Imagine hiding a treasure (宝藏) under a thick layer of grass (艹) to keep it safe. The top grass radical represents the covering, while the complex lower part 臧 looks like a hiding spot full of secret items. This visual helps link the character to both 'to hide' and 'Tibet' as a mysterious land.

Pay attention to the stroke order: first write the horizontal strokes of 艹, then the left part of 臧 (a short diagonal stroke), followed by the right side with many short lines. A common mistake is making the bottom part too narrow or forgetting the small diagonal stroke inside 臧. Keep the overall shape balanced with a wide top and a compact bottom.

藏 means 'to hide' or 'Tibet' and is pronounced cáng or zàng, while 蔬 (shū) means 'vegetables' and 蕃 (fān) means 'luxuriant' or 'foreign'. Visually, 藏 has a more complex lower part with many strokes, whereas 蔬 uses 疏 (shū) and 蕃 uses 番 (fān) as phonetic components. Always check the context and pronunciation to tell them apart.

藏 is commonly used in words like 收藏 (shōucáng, to collect) and 隐藏 (yǐncáng, to hide). When referring to Tibet, it is pronounced zàng, as in 西藏 (Xīzàng). Culturally, Tibet is an autonomous region of China known for its high mountains and unique Buddhist traditions, so the character carries a sense of mystery and remoteness.

Common words containing 藏 include: 收藏 (shōu cáng) — to collect; collection; 隐藏 (yǐn cáng) — to hide; to conceal; 宝藏 (bǎo zàng) — treasure.