How to Write 洪 (hóng) — Meaning “Flood; vast; grand”

Imagine floodwaters (氵) that are so huge they become a "common" event (共) for everyone. The phrase "common water flood" helps link the parts. Alternatively, think of the three dots as raindrops and the right side as a dam breaking — water everywhere.

Write the water radical 氵 first (three dots as strokes 1, 2, 3), then the right side 共 with six strokes (horizontal, vertical, horizontal, vertical, horizontal, left-falling). A common mistake is making the three dots too large or misaligning them; the bottom dot should align with the middle of 共. Keep the left side narrow and the right side balanced.

洪 (hóng) means 'flood' or 'vast,' with the right part 共 (together). 㳄 (xián) means 'saliva' and has the right part 欠 (yawn), so it relates to mouth water. 汧 (qiān) is a rare river name, with the right part 开 (open). Visually, 洪 has a taller, more balanced right component, while 㳄 and 汧 look distinct in their right halves.

洪 appears in common words like 洪水 (hóngshuǐ, flood) and 洪亮 (hóngliàng, loud and clear voice). It is also used in names to convey greatness or vastness, such as in the famous historical figure 洪秀全 (leader of the Taiping Rebellion). In culture, 洪 carries a neutral to positive tone when describing sound or scale, but a negative one for actual floods.

Common words containing 洪 include: 洪水 (hóng shuǐ) — Flood; floodwater; 洪亮 (hóng liàng) — Loud and clear; resonant; 洪大 (hóng dà) — Great; massive; loud.