How to Write 鬯 (chàng) — Meaning “sacrificial wine; fragrant grass”

Imagine a tall, ornate vase (the top strokes) with a curved, wide bottom (the lower part) holding a special wine. The middle section looks like twisted grass stalks, reminding you that this wine is made from fragrant plants. This visual of a unique vessel with herbal contents will help cement the character's shape and meaning.

Pay close attention to the top component, which resembles a small "pig snout" but is unique; keep its strokes compact and centered. The middle section requires balanced left and right strokes that curve inward, and the bottom is a wide, sweeping horizontal curve. A common mistake is making the bottom too narrow or the top too tall, so maintain an overall squat, balanced proportion.

Common phrases include 鬯酒 (chàng jiǔ), meaning 'sacrificial wine,' and 郁鬯 (yù chàng), meaning 'fragrant sacrificial wine.' These terms appear in classical Chinese texts describing ancient rituals where wine infused with fragrant grass was offered to ancestors or deities. You will almost never hear these in modern conversation; they are limited to historical or literary contexts.

In modern Chinese, 鬯 is extremely rare and appears almost exclusively in classical literature, historical studies, or discussions of ancient Chinese rituals. It is not part of the HSK vocabulary and is unknown to most native speakers today. Understanding it provides insight into traditional ceremonial practices, but you will not need it for everyday communication.

Common words containing 鬯 include: 鬯酒 (chàng jiǔ) — sacrificial wine; 鬯草 (chàng cǎo) — fragrant grass used in sacrificial wine; 郁鬯 (yù chàng) — fragrant sacrificial wine.