How to Write 彰 (zhāng) — Meaning “clear; manifest; to display”

Imagine a chapter (章) in a book that is decorated with three shiny lines (彡) to make its meaning stand out clearly. This visual of a highlighted chapter helps you recall that 彰 means 'clear' or 'to display.'

Pay attention to the left side 章: it has 11 strokes and should be narrow, with the vertical stroke passing through the middle. The right side 彡 consists of three short slanted strokes that should be evenly spaced and placed slightly lower than the middle of 章. A common mistake is making 彡 too tall or too close to the left part.

彰 (zhāng) focuses on 'clear display' or 'commendation,' while 彭 (péng) is a surname and also suggests 'big drum' or 'vigorous' — note the drum-like 壴 on the left. 影 (yǐng) means 'shadow' or 'image' and has 景 on the left plus 彡 on the right, emphasizing a reflection or silhouette. Visually, 彰 has 章, 彭 has 壴, and 影 has 景 on the left side.

彰 commonly appears in formal or written contexts, such as 表彰 (biǎo zhāng, 'to commend or honor publicly') and 彰显 (zhāng xiǎn, 'to manifest or show clearly'). It carries a positive, respectful tone and is often used in awards ceremonies or official statements to highlight someone's achievements or a quality that is made evident.

Common words containing 彰 include: 表彰 (biǎo zhāng) — To commend / To honor; 彰显 (zhāng xiǎn) — to manifest; to show clearly; 彰 (zhāng) — clear; manifest; to display.