How to Write 粽 (zòng) — Meaning “Zongzi (sticky rice dumpling).”

Think of a pile of sticky rice (米) that is wrapped by an ancestor (宗) — as if your grandmother's secret recipe for zongzi has been passed down. The left side 米 looks like grains, and the right side 宗 resembles a leaf tied with a string, reminding you of the wrapped dumpling.

The left radical 米 should be written narrow, occupying about one-third of the width, while the right part 宗 is wider. Pay attention to the stroke order of 宗: first the top 宀 (dot, dot, horizontal hook), then the bottom 示 (horizontal, horizontal, vertical hook, left-falling, dot). A common mistake is making the 米 too wide, which unbalances the character.

粽 has 宗 on the right and means sticky rice dumpling. 粞 (xī) has 西 (west) on the right and refers to crushed rice or rice flour. 粟 (sù) has a different structure (米 above a component like 㐭) and means millet or grain. Visually, 粽 uses 宗 (ancestor), 粞 uses 西 (west), and 粟 has the rice on top, not on the left.

粽 appears almost exclusively in relation to the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节), when families make and eat zongzi. It is also found in food product names like 肉粽 (meat zongzi) and in phrases such as 包粽子 (to wrap zongzi). Culturally, the character evokes a traditional festive food that symbolizes reunion and remembrance.

Common words containing 粽 include: 粽子 (zòng zi) — Zongzi (sticky rice dumpling wrapped in leaves).; 肉粽 (ròu zòng) — meat zongzi (sticky rice dumpling with meat); 包粽子 (bāo zòng zi) — to wrap rice dumplings (zongzi).