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March 24, 2026
酲chéng(cheng2)
酲 (chéng) refers to the condition of being hungover or inebriated, often characterized by discomfort after consuming alcohol. This term is more literary and may be used in poetic contexts to describe the lingering effects of drinking. It can also convey a sense of discomfort that follows a state of indulgence.
Strokes14Radical酉Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, drinking alcohol often plays a role in social gatherings and celebrations, making the concept of a hangover (酲) particularly relevant during festivals or banquets. Traditional customs may involve toasting and drinking, leading to the experience of酲.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'hangover' as a heavy 'weight' (the radical 酉 for wine) pressing down on you, making you feel 'uncomfortable' the next day. The character 酲 looks like a person slumped over, symbolizing the fatigue and discomfort that comes with being hungover.
Meanings of 酲
chéng(cheng2)
1hangover; uncomfortable
2(literary) inebriated
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 酲
酲Simplified
14Strokes
酉Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 酲
Podcast: 酲
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AI Study Notes for 酲
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a 'hangover' as a heavy 'weight' (the radical 酉 for wine) pressing down on you, making you feel 'uncomfortable' the next day. The character 酲 looks like a person slumped over, symbolizing the fatigue and discomfort that comes with being hungover.
Usage Notes
酲 is not commonly used in everyday conversation, making it more appropriate for literary or formal contexts. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; the tone is crucial. Typical collocations include 酲酒 (chéng jiǔ) meaning 'to be hungover from alcohol.'
HSK Study Tips
酲 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, but understanding it can deepen your appreciation of literary texts. Focus on the radicals and components when learning this character, as they can help you recognize patterns in other related terms about drinking or inebriation.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, drinking alcohol often plays a role in social gatherings and celebrations, making the concept of a hangover (酲) particularly relevant during festivals or banquets. Traditional customs may involve toasting and drinking, leading to the experience of酲.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 酲 with 醉 (zuì), which means 'drunk.' For example, saying '我今天很醉' (I am very hungover today) is incorrect; the correct phrase would be '我今天很酲.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 酲
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Cultural Notes for 酲
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, drinking alcohol often plays a role in social gatherings and celebrations, making the concept of a hangover (酲) particularly relevant during festivals or banquets. Traditional customs may involve toasting and drinking, leading to the experience of酲.
Word Family of 酲
Words Containing This Character1
酲chénghungover
Exercise 1 of 1
Compound Meaning
What does 酲 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 酲
You could say, '我昨晚喝酒，今天觉得很酲' (I drank last night, and today I feel very hungover).
No, 酲 is more literary and not commonly heard in casual conversation; people might simply say '宿醉' (sù zuì) for hangover.
Characters like 醉 (zuì) meaning 'drunk' and 酒 (jiǔ) meaning 'alcohol' are related and often used in similar contexts.
