How to Write 囱 (cōng) — Meaning “Chimney”

Imagine a square chimney (囗) with a small window inside where smoke comes out. The inner part looks like a simple drawing of a chimney opening, helping you associate the shape with its meaning.

Write the outer enclosure first: left vertical stroke, top-right corner stroke, then bottom horizontal. Inside, draw a left vertical, two horizontal strokes, and a final vertical stroke (total 7 strokes). A common mistake is making the inner part too large so it touches the outer frame unevenly.

囚 has a person component (人) inside the enclosure, meaning prisoner, while 四 has a flat interior with two strokes and means four. 囱 has a more complex inner grid-like structure and specifically refers to a chimney.

囱 appears in the common word 烟囱 (yān cōng), meaning chimney or smokestack, used for both household and industrial smoke vents. Traditionally, chimney sweeping (扫烟囱) was a recognized trade, and chimneys are often depicted in Chinese art as symbols of home and warmth.

Common words containing 囱 include: 烟囱 (yān cōng) — chimney; smokestack; 囱口 (cōng kǒu) — Chimney opening; 烟囱帽 (yān cōng mào) — chimney cap; chimney pot.