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March 24, 2026
尝(嘗)cháng(chang2)
The character 尝 (cháng) means 'to taste' or 'to try.' It is commonly used in culinary contexts, such as tasting food, as well as in broader contexts where one experiences or tries something for the first time. This character also has meanings related to having done something in the past, similar to the English 'ever' or 'once.'
Strokes9Radical⺌Frequency#3035DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, tasting food is considered an important part of dining etiquette, often symbolizing appreciation for the chef's effort. Various dishes are often showcased in family gatherings, with tasting playing a central role in the experience.
Memory Tip
Imagine a chef tasting a dish to ensure it's perfect. The character 尝 has a component that resembles a person (the left side) holding a spoon to taste. The pronunciation 'cháng' sounds like 'charm,' reminding you that tasting food can be a charming experience.
Meanings of 尝
cháng(chang2)
1to taste
2to try
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 尝
尝Simplified
嘗Traditional
9Strokes
⺌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#3035Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L3IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 尝
Podcast: 尝
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AI Study Notes for 尝
Quick Contrast
尝 (cháng) vs 试 (shì) — use 尝 for tasting food specifically, while 试 is more general for trying or testing.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a chef tasting a dish to ensure it's perfect. The character 尝 has a component that resembles a person (the left side) holding a spoon to taste. The pronunciation 'cháng' sounds like 'charm,' reminding you that tasting food can be a charming experience.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 尝 (cháng), as it is a second tone. It is often used with food verbs, so it pairs well with words like '吃' (to eat) or '喝' (to drink). A common mistake is to confuse it with '尝试' (chángshì), which means 'to try' in a more general sense.
HSK Study Tips
At HSK Level 4, students should focus on using 尝 in phrases related to food and experiences. Connecting it with other verbs related to trying or testing can help reinforce its meaning. Practice forming sentences that incorporate past experiences, as this will deepen understanding of its nuanced meanings.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, tasting food is considered an important part of dining etiquette, often symbolizing appreciation for the chef's effort. Various dishes are often showcased in family gatherings, with tasting playing a central role in the experience.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 尝 with the similar-sounding 常 (cháng), which means 'often.' A common error is saying '我常这个菜' instead of '我尝这个菜,' which translates to 'I often this dish' instead of the correct 'I taste this dish.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 尝
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Grammar Patterns of 尝
尝 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 8 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Try this tasty dish for supper with a crispy salad.
10
他总是渴望拥有新的经历，而且永远愿意尝试。
tā zǒng shì kě wàng yōng yǒu xīn de jīng lì， ， ér qiě yǒng yuǎn yuàn yì cháng。
He is always eager for new experiences and ever-willing to experiment.
Cultural Notes for 尝
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, tasting food is not just about flavor; it's also about sharing experiences and building relationships. Meals are often a communal activity, emphasizing the importance of trying new dishes together.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, tasting food is considered an important part of dining etiquette, often symbolizing appreciation for the chef's effort. Various dishes are often showcased in family gatherings, with tasting playing a central role in the experience.
Word Family of 尝
Compounds2
偿chang2to repay
鲿
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 偿 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 尝
尝 (cháng) specifically refers to tasting or trying food, while 试 (shì) has a broader meaning of trying or testing something, not limited to food. For example, you would use 尝 when talking about flavors, but 试 could apply to trying on clothes or testing a theory.
Yes, 尝 (cháng) can be used in the past tense to indicate that you have already tasted or tried something. You can say '我已经尝过' meaning 'I have already tasted it.' This shows the experience has occurred.
尝 (cháng) means 'to taste' or 'to try' in Chinese. It can also imply experiencing something, as in having already or ever tried something. The character is often used in culinary contexts or when discussing experiences.
You can use 尝 (cháng) in a sentence like '我想尝这个菜' which means 'I want to taste this dish.' It's commonly used when expressing the desire to try food or experience something new.
You can say '我想尝这个菜' (Wǒ xiǎng cháng zhège cài), which means 'I want to taste this dish.'
Yes, beyond tasting, 尝 can mean to experience something or to have done something before, like '我尝试过这个' (Wǒ chángshì guò zhège), meaning 'I have tried this.'
It is versatile and can be used in both formal and informal settings, particularly when discussing food or experiences.
