尝 from HSK Level 5 Vocabulary List

The Chinese character 尝 (cháng) is composed of two parts: the radical 食 (shí), which means "food" or "to eat", and the phonetic component 昌 (chāng). The original meaning of 尝 is "to taste" or "to try", which is related to the idea of eating. In ancient times, people used to taste food before serving it to the emperor or other important figures to ensure its safety and quality. This practice gave rise to the extended meaning of 尝 as "to test" or "to experiment".Over time, the meaning of 尝 further expanded to include "to experience" or "to go through". This is because tasting or trying something often involves a personal experience. For example, we can say 尝尽酸甜苦辣 (chángjìn suāntían kǔlà), which means "to have experienced all kinds of ups and downs in life".In addition to its literal meanings, 尝 is also used in a number of idioms and phrases. For example, 一尝夙愿 (yīcháng sùyuàn) means "to finally fulfill a long-cherished wish", and 尝百草 (cháng bǎicǎo) means "to taste hundreds of herbs", which refers to the legendary Chinese physician Shennong who is said to have tasted hundreds of herbs to discover their medicinal properties.In summary, the Chinese character 尝 has a rich history and a variety of meanings, all of which are related to the idea of tasting, trying, or experiencing. Understanding the etymology of 尝 can help HSK learners better grasp its nuances and use it accurately in different contexts.