How to Write 皻 (zhā) — Meaning “rosacea”

Imagine a person with a red, bumpy nose from rosacea: the left side 皮 looks like a piece of skin, and the right side 虘 resembles a face with two dot-like eyes and a wide nose. This visual helps connect the character to its meaning of rosacea on the face.

First write the left radical 皮 with 5 strokes: horizontal hook, left slash, vertical, horizontal fold, then a right-falling stroke. Then write the right component 虘 (consisting of 虍 in 6 strokes and 且 in 5 strokes). A common mistake is making the right part too wide; keep it narrow to balance the character.

The most common phrase is 酒皻鼻 (jiǔ zhā bí), meaning "brandy nose" or rhinophyma, a red swollen nose condition. 酒皻 (jiǔ zhā) refers to rosacea generally, and 皻面 (zhā miàn) means rosacea on the face. These terms appear in medical descriptions, not everyday speech.

This character is very rare and is used almost only in medical or dermatological contexts to describe rosacea. Culturally, 酒皻鼻 has a historical link to heavy drinking, though modern medicine recognizes multiple causes for rosacea.

Common words containing 皻 include: 酒皻鼻 (jiǔ zhā bí) — Rhinophyma / Brandy nose; 酒皻 (jiǔ zhā) — Rosacea (skin condition); 皻面 (zhā miàn) — rosacea on the face.