你好臭
nǐ hǎo chòu
The English phrase "you stink" is translated into Chinese as 你好臭 (nǐ hǎo chòu).
你好臭 is used to tell someone that they have a bad body odor. While it can be used literally to describe a smell, it is also frequently used colloquially between close friends to tease someone or to express that someone is being "stinky" in terms of behavior or character.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase breaks down into 你 (you), 好 (very) and 臭 (stinky). In this context, 好 functions as an intensifier meaning "very" rather than its usual meaning of "good".
How do you pronounce it?
nǐ hǎo chòu
Did you know?
- Chinese has a specific expression 臭美 which uses the word for 'stink' to describe someone who is vain or overly obsessed with their own looks.
- While 你好臭 describes a bad smell, the word 臭 is also used to describe the specific smell of some highly prized delicacies, like stinky tofu 臭豆腐.
- The character 臭 is composed of two elements representing 'nose' and 'meat', visually depicting the act of smelling something decaying.
Examples in context
- 你不洗澡，你好臭。Nǐ bù xǐzǎo, nǐ hǎo chòu.You didn't bathe, you stink.
- 离我远点，你好臭。Lí wǒ yuǎn diǎn, nǐ hǎo chòu.Stay away from me, you stink.
Example conversation
In a small room after a long day of hiking.
- 志强 Zhiqiang快出去，你好臭。Kuài chūqù, nǐ hǎo chòu.Get out, you stink.
- 佳怡 Jiayi我只是出了一身汗。Wǒ zhǐshì chūle yīshēn hàn.I'm just sweaty.
- 志强 Zhiqiang可是你真的好臭。Kěshì nǐ zhēnde hǎo chòu.But you really stink.
- 佳怡 Jiayi好吧，我去洗澡。Hǎo ba, wǒ qù xǐzǎo.Fine, I'll go take a shower.
