How to Write 奘 (zàng) — Meaning “large; stout”

Picture the famous monk Xuanzang (玄奘) as a large, sturdy figure. The top 大 reminds you of his size, and the bottom 壮 suggests his strength, making it easy to connect the character to a memorable person.

Write the top 大 first, making it wide so it covers the bottom. The bottom left part (爿) has three strokes: dot, horizontal, vertical; the bottom right (士) has two horizontal lines with the lower one longer. A common mistake is making the 大 too small or the bottom too narrow, which ruins the balance.

In 奄, the bottom is 电 (lightning), meaning "to cover"; in 奇, the bottom is 可 (able), meaning "strange". In 奘, the bottom is 壮 (strong), which combines 爿 and 士. The different bottom parts change both the meaning and the visual appearance.

奘 is rarely used in daily life except in the name 玄奘 (Xuanzang), the famous Tang Dynasty monk who traveled to India. It also appears in words like 粗奘 (thick and strong) and 健奘 (robust), but these are uncommon. Learning 奘 helps you recognize an important historical figure.

Common words containing 奘 include: 玄奘 (xuán zàng) — Xuanzang (famous Tang Dynasty monk); 粗奘 (cū zàng) — Thick and strong; sturdy; 健奘 (jiàn zàng) — Robust / Strong.