How to Write 搀 (chān) — Meaning “to support by the arm; to mix”

Imagine you need to help your grandmother walk, so you offer your arm and say "Chǎn" like "chan" in "chance" — you take a chance to give her a steady arm. The left side looks like a hand (扌), and the right side looks like a person leaning on that hand for support.

The stroke order is left radical (扌) then the right part: first 撇, then 横撇, then 竖, then 横折, then 横, then 撇, then 竖弯钩, then 点, then 撇, then 横, then 撇, then 捺 (12 strokes total). A common mistake is writing the right side like 免 (miǎn) or 兔 (tù) — note that 搀's right side has an extra stroke (a short vertical line after the first 撇) that makes it 兂, not 免.

搀 specifically means to support someone by the arm or to mix/blend, and it always involves the hand. 挨 (āi) means to lean on, endure, or be next to, and it does not imply hand support. 挫 (cuò) means to defeat, frustrate, or blunt, often used in abstract conflict — it has no connection to physical arm support or mixing.

搀 is used in daily life for offering physical arm support, especially to elderly or injured people (e.g., 搀扶老人 across the street), and also for mixing ingredients (e.g., 搀杂 in cooking). Culturally, showing respect by offering your arm to an elder is a valued gesture in Chinese society, and 搀扶 reflects this polite caring action.

Common words containing 搀 include: 搀扶 (chān fú) — to support someone by the arm; 搀手 (chān shǒu) — to hold someone's arm for support; 搀杂 (chān zá) — to mix; to blend; to adulterate.