How to Write 晨 (chén) — Meaning “Morning”

Imagine the sun (日) rising over a farm: the bottom part 辰 looks like a farmer waking up and stretching his arms. This picture of 'sun + farmer at sunrise' helps you remember that 晨 means 'morning'.

Write the top sun radical 日 first, small and centered. Then write the bottom 辰: start with a horizontal line, then a left-falling stroke, then two short horizontals, a vertical hook, and finally two more strokes. A common mistake is making the bottom part too tall — keep the top and bottom balanced.

晨 has the bottom part 辰 (with a vertical hook and several horizontal lines), while 昜 has a bottom part that looks like 勿 (with a curved stroke) and means 'bright sun'. 昝 has a bottom part like a roof (㐭) and is a rare surname. Only 晨 means 'morning'.

You often see 晨 in words like 早晨 (morning), 晨练 (morning exercise), and 凌晨 (early morning before dawn). In China, many people do 晨练 in parks, such as practicing tai chi or jogging, to start the day fresh. 晨 also appears in names because it suggests a bright, energetic start.

Common words containing 晨 include: 早晨 (zǎo chén) — morning; early morning; 晨练 (chén liàn) — Morning exercise; 凌晨 (líng chén) — early morning (before dawn).