尝

• Pinyin: cháng
• Hanzi breakdown: 尝 = simplified from 嘗, with 尚 (still/yet) as phonetic component

Meaning

To taste; to try; to experience.

Used for tasting food or drinks, and metaphorically for trying or experiencing things. Common in phrases like 品尝 (to savor) and 尝试 (to attempt).

Examples

1. 你尝尝这道菜，看看味道怎么样。 Try this dish and see how it tastes.
2. 他从来没有尝过失败的滋味。 He has never tasted the bitterness of failure.
3. 我想尝一口你的蛋糕，可以吗？ Can I have a bite of your cake?

Usage Guide

Context: food, everyday, experience

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 尝尝看。(Try tasting it.)
• 让我尝一口。(Let me have a taste.)

Don't Say

• 把'尝'和'吃'混淆——'尝'是少量品尝，'吃'是食用 (Don't confuse 尝 with 吃 — 尝 means to taste a little, 吃 means to eat)

Origin & History

Originally meant 'to taste in a ritual' in ancient Chinese, later generalized to everyday tasting.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal