How to Write 酎 (zhòu) — Meaning “Strong, double-fermented wine”

Imagine a wine jar (酉) that has been aged exactly one inch (寸) deeper than usual, making the wine much stronger. The extra "inch" of fermentation time reminds you that 酎 means strong, double-fermented wine.

Write the left radical 酉 first with 7 strokes, keeping it narrow, then add the right part 寸 in 3 strokes. A common mistake is making the 寸 too wide or out of balance; the horizontal stroke of 寸 should align roughly with the middle of the 酉 component.

酎 (zhòu) has the 酉 radical plus 寸, meaning strong wine, while 酊 (dǐng) has 酉 plus 丁 and means drunk or a tincture. 酋 (qiú) is a different character meaning chieftain or ferment; it lacks the 寸 and has a different top part (eight strokes). Visually, 酎 is the only one with the 寸 component.

酎 is rarely used in daily conversation today, appearing mainly in historical or literary contexts, such as the word 醇酎 (chún zhòu) for fine strong wine. A cultural note is the Han dynasty term 酎金 (zhòu jīn), a special gold tribute offered to the emperor during ancestral wine ceremonies, showing its connection to ancient rituals.

Common words containing 酎 include: 醇酎 (chún zhòu) — strong, pure wine; 酎金 (zhòu jīn) — Zhoujin (gold offered to the emperor in the Han dynasty); 饮酎 (yǐn zhòu) — to drink strong, pure wine.