How to Write 尝 (cháng) — Meaning “To taste; to try”

Imagine taking a small (⺌) bite of a fluffy cloud (云) to taste it. This visual picture helps you remember that 尝 means "to taste" or "to try." The cloud is soft and sweet, just like a new flavor you want to sample.

Start with the top ⺌ (dot, dot, left-falling stroke), then write the bottom 云 (horizontal, horizontal, hook, dot). Keep the top ⺌ narrow and compact, and make the bottom 云 wider. A common mistake is to write the top as the full character 小 (with a vertical hook) instead of the narrow ⺌ variant.

Both 尝 and 尚 share the top ⺌ part, but their bottoms are different: 尝 has 云 (cloud) below, while 尚 has a bottom resembling 同 without the top stroke (actually 冋 or 向). Meaning also differs — 尝 is about tasting or trying, while 尚 means "still, yet" or "to esteem." Visually, 尝 has a flatter bottom with two horizontal lines, while 尚 has a more open structure.

You often see 尝 in words like 尝尝 (to have a taste), 品尝 (to savor), and 尝试 (to try or attempt). It is used both for literal tasting of food, as in inviting someone to "尝尝这个菜," and metaphorically, like trying something new. In Chinese culture, offering someone a taste with "请尝尝" is a friendly, polite gesture.

Common words containing 尝 include: 尝尝 (cháng cháng) — To have a taste; 品尝 (pǐn cháng) — to taste; to savor; 尝试 (cháng shì) — To try; to attempt.