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March 24, 2026
嘗cháng(chang2)
The character 嘗 (cháng) means 'to taste' or 'to experience.' It is commonly used in contexts related to food and flavor, as well as in broader situations where one tries or experiments with something new. The nuance often implies a sense of sampling or getting a first-hand experience.
Strokes14Radical口Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, tasting is often associated with sharing food and enhancing social bonds. The act of trying different dishes during festivals or family gatherings is a significant aspect of hospitality and tradition.
Memory Tip
Imagine a chef named Chang (cháng) who is always tasting his dishes to ensure they are perfect. The character 嘗 looks like a chef (the mouth) taking a bite of something delicious, reminding you to taste before you serve.
Meanings of 嘗
cháng(chang2)
1to taste; to experience, to experiment with
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 嘗
嘗Simplified
14Strokes
口Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 嘗
Podcast: 嘗
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AI Study Notes for 嘗
Quick Contrast
尝 (cháng) vs 试 (shì) — use 嘗 (cháng) when emphasizing tasting or sampling, while 试 (shì) is more general for trying or testing something.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a chef named Chang (cháng) who is always tasting his dishes to ensure they are perfect. The character 嘗 looks like a chef (the mouth) taking a bite of something delicious, reminding you to taste before you serve.
Usage Notes
A common mistake is to confuse 嘗 (cháng) with 嚐 (hǎo), which also relates to tasting but in a more specialized context. Use 嘗 in both formal and informal settings, but be cautious of the tone; ensure you pronounce it with a rising tone to convey the correct meaning.
HSK Study Tips
Although 嘗 is not currently in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects well with other verbs related to sensory experiences, such as 听 (tīng - to listen) and 见 (jiàn - to see). Focus on using it in sentences that describe trying new foods or experiences.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, tasting is often associated with sharing food and enhancing social bonds. The act of trying different dishes during festivals or family gatherings is a significant aspect of hospitality and tradition.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 嘗 (cháng) with 嚐 (hǎo), mistakenly using 嚐 when talking about tasting food. For example, saying '我想嚐这个' instead of '我想嘗这个' is incorrect; use 嘗 for correct usage.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 嘗
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Cultural Notes for 嘗
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, tasting is often associated with sharing food and enhancing social bonds. The act of trying different dishes during festivals or family gatherings is a significant aspect of hospitality and tradition.
Word Family of 嘗
Words Containing This Character10
尝试chángshìto try嘗試
尝chángto taste嘗
品尝pǐnchángto sample品嘗
未尝not ever未嘗
何尝how?何嘗
卧薪尝胆fig. to maintain one's resolve for revenge臥薪嘗膽
饱尝to enjoy fully飽嘗
浅尝辄止to attempt half-heartedly淺嚐輒止
孟尝君Lord Menchang of Qi, Chancellor of Qi and of Wei during the Warring States Period (475-221 BC)孟嘗君
浅尝dilettante淺嘗
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 尝试 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 嘗
You can say '我想嘗這道菜' (Wǒ xiǎng cháng zhè dào cài), which means 'I want to taste this dish.'
No, while it primarily relates to tasting food, it can also refer to experiencing or trying new activities or things.
嘗 specifically emphasizes the act of tasting, especially food, while 试 (shì) is more general and means to try or test something.
