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烝 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
烝zhēngto rise; steam; many, numerouszg, 10 strokes, radical 灬
烝zhēngmultitudinousunknown, 10 strokes, radical 灬
烝zhēngthe massesunknown, 10 strokes, radical 灬
烝zhēngto present (to sb)unknown, 10 strokes, radical 灬
烝zhēngto advanceunknown, 10 strokes, radical 灬
烝zhēngto progressunknown, 10 strokes, radical 灬
烝zhēngarchaic variant of 蒸[zheng1]unknown, 10 strokes, radical 灬
zhēng(zheng1) T1
  1. 1to rise; steam; many, numerous
  2. 2multitudinous
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

烝zhēng(zheng1)

The character 烝 (zhēng) primarily means to rise or steam, often associated with the idea of something being heated or elevated in temperature. It can also refer to the concept of multitude or many, indicating a significant number of people or things. In more archaic contexts, it can be linked to the act of presenting something to someone, reflecting an advancement or progression.

Strokes10Radical灬
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, the act of steaming food is prevalent, reflecting a cooking method that emphasizes health and nutrition. The character 烝 can symbolize the communal aspect of sharing meals, where many people gather around a hot steaming dish.

Memory Tip

Imagine a steaming pot of rice rising up with an overwhelming number of grains, each representing 'many' (the multitude). The character 烝 combines the fire radical 火 (huǒ) and the concept of rising, helping you visualize the steam rising and the many grains underneath.

Meanings of 烝

zhēng(zheng1)
1to rise; steam; many, numerous
2multitudinous
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 烝

烝Simplified
10Strokes
灬Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 烝

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Podcast: 烝

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AI Study Notes for 烝

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 烝 with similar characters that have slightly different meanings, such as 蒸 (zhēng), which specifically means to steam food. This character is more formal and can be used in literary contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversation. Remember to pronounce it with the correct tone (first tone) to convey the intended meaning.

HSK Study Tips

While 烝 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, understanding it can enrich your knowledge of synonyms and related characters at the intermediate level. Focus on the connection between 烝 and 蒸, as they share similar phonetics and themes related to cooking and heat.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 烝 interchangeably with 蒸 (zhēng), thinking they have the same meaning in all contexts. However, 蒸 is more commonly used in modern Mandarin for steaming food, while 烝 is more formal and less frequently encountered.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 烝

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Etymology of 烝

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

Boiling 灬 water 氶

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 烝

  1. 1The giveawayBoiling 灬 water 氶
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 烝? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 烝?

Decomposition of 烝

IDS Structure⿱丞灬
烝Full Character
=
丞cheng2
top
灬huo3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 烝?

How to say to rise; steam; many, numerous in Chinese

“to rise; steam; many, numerous” in Chinese is烝zhēng

The character 烝 (zhēng) primarily means to rise or steam, often associated with the idea of something being heated or elevated in temperature. It can also refer to the concept of multitude or many, indicating a significant number of people or things. In more archaic contexts, it can be linked to the act of presenting something to someone, reflecting an advancement or progression.

When to use 烝

Learners often confuse 烝 with similar characters that have slightly different meanings, such as 蒸 (zhēng), which specifically means to steam food. This character is more formal and can be used in literary contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversation. Remember to pronounce it with the correct tone (first tone) to convey the intended meaning.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 烝 interchangeably with 蒸 (zhēng), thinking they have the same meaning in all contexts. However, 蒸 is more commonly used in modern Mandarin for steaming food, while 烝 is more formal and less frequently encountered.

Write 烝

烝

Practice writing 烝 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 烝

Words Containing This Character1
烝zhēngthe masses
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 烝 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 烝

烝 is not commonly used in modern vocabulary, but it may appear in literary texts or classical writings.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 烝?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.