湘 (xiāng): Hunan (province; abbreviation)

Meanings

湘菜以辣出名。

Xiāngcài yǐ là chūmíng.

Hunan cuisine is famous for being spicy.

湘江穿过长沙市。

Xiāngjiāng chuānguò Chángshāshì.

The Xiang River runs through the city of Changsha.

usage

湘 is the one-character abbreviation for 湖南 (Hunan province), named after the 湘江 (Xiang River). Hence 湘菜 for Hunan-style cooking.

radical

氵 shuǐ

water

氵 is the water radical 水 in left-side form, fitting 湘 as a river name later used for the province.

phonetic

相 xiāng

mutual; appearance

相 supplies the sound xiāng exactly and carries no meaning here, serving as the phonetic part.

湘 xiāng