气味
qìwèi
The English word 'scent' is translated into Chinese as 气味 (qìwèi).
气味 is used as a general noun to describe the physical property of an odor, whether it is a perfume's scent or a chemical's smell.
Meaning: distinctive odour or smell (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 气味 is composed of 气 (qì), meaning gas or air and 味 (wèi), meaning taste or flavor.
Which one should you use?
While 气味 is a neutral term for any scent or smell, it does not inherently imply a pleasant or unpleasant quality, unlike words like 香 (xiāng, fragrant) or 臭 (chòu, stinky).
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term 香味儿 is particularly common in northern regions of China and is a colloquial way to say 'scent'.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
qìwèi
Did you know?
- Chinese has a specific term 气味相投 (qìwèi xiāngtóu) which literally means 'their scents match'. It is used as an idiom to describe two people who have the same temperament or personality and get along perfectly.
- The word 气 (qì) within 气味 refers to the same vital energy or life force found in concepts like 'Qi Gong' and 'Tai Chi'. In Chinese thought, a 'scent' is literally a manifestation of this invisible energy flowing through the air.
- While 气味 is neutral, the word 香 (xiāng) for fragrant scents is so powerful that it is used as a noun for 'incense'. Burning incense is fundamentally seen as 'burning fragrance'.
Examples in context
- 这道菜的香味儿真不错，是什么调料？The scent of this dish is really good, what are the seasonings?
- 这种气味很奇怪。Zhè zhǒng qìwèi hěn qíguài.This scent is very strange.
- 我闻到了花朵的气味。Wǒ wéndào le huāduǒ de qìwèi.I smelled the scent of flowers.
- 厨房里有一股食物的气味。Chúfáng lǐ yǒu yī gǔ shíwù de qìwèi.There is a scent of food in the kitchen.
Example conversation
Zihan and Junjie are visiting a perfume shop.
- 梓涵 Zihan俊杰，你觉得这个气味怎么样？Jùnjié, nǐ juéde zhège qìwèi zěnmeyàng?Junjie, what do you think of this scent?
- 俊杰 Junjie我觉得这个气味太浓了。wǒ juéde zhège qìwèi tài nóng le.I think this scent is too strong.
- 梓涵 Zihan那我试试另外一个。nà wǒ shìshì lìngwài yī gè.Then I'll try another one.
- 俊杰 Junjie好的，那个看起来更清爽。hǎo de, nàge kàn qǐlái gèng qīngshuǎng.Okay, that one looks fresher.
