How to Write 疮 (chuāng) — Meaning “sore”

Imagine a granary (仓) that is infected and covered with painful sores (疒). Picture the granary's walls being filled with bumps and blisters, making it a "sore house." This links the meaning of sore with the sound and shape of the right part.

Write the left radical 疒 first: dot, then left-falling stroke, then horizontal with a hook, and finally two dots inside. The right part 仓 starts with a downward stroke, then a hook, and ends with a small horizontal stroke at the bottom. Keep the right side narrower than the left so the character stays balanced.

疮 (chuāng) means a general sore or open wound, while 疔 (dīng) refers specifically to a deep, painful boil like a carbuncle. 疖 (jiē) means a small, superficial boil or furuncle. Visually, 疮 has 仓 on the right, whereas 疔 has 丁 (nail) and 疖 has 节 (joint).

疮 appears in medical terms like 冻疮 (chilblain/frostbite) and 痔疮 (hemorrhoids). It can also be used metaphorically in phrases like 疮疤 (scar), referring to a painful memory or past mistake. In Chinese culture, avoiding picking at sores is seen as good health practice, and this idea extends to not reopening old emotional wounds.

Common words containing 疮 include: 冻疮 (dòng chuāng) — chilblain; frostbite; 痔疮 (zhì chuāng) — hemorrhoids; piles; 疮疤 (chuāng bā) — scar.