How to Write 卺 (jǐn) — Meaning “nuptial wine cup”

Picture two friends (友) kneeling (卩) together to drink wine from a shared cup at a wedding. That image helps you recall that 卺 means 'nuptial wine cup' and sounds like "jin" as in "join"—the couple joins in the ritual.

Write the top part 友 first (stroke order: left-falling, horizontal, horizontal, left-falling, then a horizontal hook), then add the bottom 卩 (two strokes: horizontal fold and vertical hook). A common mistake is to make the top too wide; keep the 友 part compact so the bottom 卩 supports it neatly.

卺 has 友 (friend) above 卩, while 危 has a different top (a person under a roof) and 巳 (snake) below, and means 'danger'. 即 shares the 卩 radical but has 艮 (a kneeling person or grain) on the left, meaning 'immediate' or 'approach'. Visually, the top/left parts are distinct.

卺 is very rare today, appearing mostly in classical literature or descriptions of traditional weddings. The phrase 合卺 (hé jǐn) refers to the ancient ritual where the bride and groom drink from two halves of a gourd, symbolizing their union—this custom is still referenced in formal or poetic language.

Common words containing 卺 include: 合卺 (hé jǐn) — Nuptial cup (traditional wedding ritual).; 卺饮 (jǐn yǐn) — drinking the nuptial wine; 卺酒 (jǐn jiǔ) — nuptial wine.