How to Write 萄 (táo) — Meaning “grape (used in the word for grape)”

Imagine a grapevine growing over a pottery jar: the grass radical 艹 is the vine, and the bottom part 匋 looks like a jar or container. This reminds you that grapes are used to make wine stored in pottery. The shape 匋 even contains 缶, which means 'pottery'.

Write the top radical 艹 first (horizontal, vertical, vertical, horizontal), then the bottom 匋: first the left stroke (丿), then the right part 缶 (丿, 一, 一, 丨, ㇄). A common mistake is making the bottom too wide; keep the 缶 portion narrow and centered under the grass radical.

萄 has the grass radical on top and 匋 below (with a 缶 inside), while 兹 has the grass radical on top and 玄 below (meaning 'now'). 苧 also has grass on top but 宁 below (meaning 'ramie'). Pay attention to the lower component: 萄's bottom looks like a jar, 兹's looks like a skein of thread, and 苧's looks like a house with a hanging line.

萄 only appears in the compound word 葡萄 (grape) and its derivatives like 葡萄汁 (grape juice) and 葡萄酒 (wine). It never stands alone. Culturally, grapes are associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival and wine drinking; 葡萄酒 (wine) is a popular gift during Chinese New Year.

Common words containing 萄 include: 葡萄 (pú táo) — grape; 葡萄汁 (pú táo zhī) — grape juice; 葡萄酒 (pú táo jiǔ) — wine.