How to Write 酒 (jiǔ) — Meaning “Alcohol / Wine / Liquor”

Imagine a wine jar (酉) with three drops of liquid (氵) dripping from the mouth of the jar. This picture of a jar releasing three drops helps you recall that 酒 means alcohol or wine.

Write the left radical 酉 first (7 strokes), making sure the inner horizontal lines are evenly spaced. Then add the three dots on the right (氵) as separate small drops, without connecting them into a line.

酒 has three dots (氵) on the right side, while 酊 has the character 丁 (nail shape) on the right and is only used in the word 酩酊 (dead drunk). 酋 has two dots above 酉 and means a chief or leader, not related to alcohol.

酒 refers to any alcoholic drink, such as beer (啤酒) or wine, and is very common in social meals and business banquets. In Chinese culture, drinking is a way to build trust, and saying "gānbēi" (干杯) means you empty your glass as a sign of respect.

Common words containing 酒 include: 喝酒 (hē jiǔ) — To drink alcohol; 啤酒 (pí jiǔ) — Beer; 酒店 (jiǔ diàn) — Hotel / Wine shop.