How to Write 沆 (hàng) — Meaning “Mist / Vast water”

Imagine a vast sea (氵) stretching so far that you have to 亢 (raise your head) to see the horizon. The elevated or stretching feeling of 亢 helps you recall ‘vast water or mist.’

The left radical 氵 should be written narrow and close to the right component 亢. Pay attention to the final stroke of 亢: it is a left-falling stroke (撇) that extends slightly under the 几-like top part, not a simple hook. Keep the bottom of 亢 balanced with the water radical.

沆 (hàng) has the water radical plus 亢, meaning mist or vast water. 㳄 (xián) has a different right side (欠) and means saliva or watery mouth, so it looks like water plus a mouth. 氿 (guǐ) has 九 on the right and refers to a spring or small stream; it is visually more compact than 沆.

沆 rarely appears alone today; it mainly appears in the idiom 沆瀣一气 (hàng xiè yī qì), meaning ‘to act in collusion’ or ‘to be in cahoots.’ Historically, this idiom came from a Tang dynasty story about two officials both having the character 沆 and 瀣 in their names, implying they worked together unethically.

Common words containing 沆 include: 沆瀣一气 (hàng xiè yī qì) — to act in collusion; to be in cahoots; 沆茫 (hàng máng) — vast and misty (of water or fog); 沆瀣 (hàng xiè) — Mist / Dew.