熏 (xūn) — to smoke, to fumigate (food, incense); (figurative) to influence or cultivate gradually, to edify
Definition
熏 (xūn) covers two senses: literally to smoke or fumigate food/incense, and figuratively to influence gradually (often as 熏陶). Distinct from 教育 (formal teaching) — 熏 is a slow, ambient shaping through exposure, like 启迪 but gentler and ongoing.
verb
to smoketo fumigate (food, incense)(figurative) to influence or cultivate gradually, to edify
Examples
- 熏。Nǎi nai yòng guì huā xūn le zhè kuài ròu.Grandma smoked this piece of meat with osmanthus flowers.
- 。Hǎo xí guàn shì màn màn xūn táo chū lái de.Good habits are gradually cultivated.
- 熏。Tā zài wò shì lǐ xūn le yì diǎn tán xiāng.He burned a little sandalwood incense in the bedroom.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
This origin belongs to the traditional form 燻; 熏 is its simplified writing.
In the traditional form 燻, 火 marks fire or smoke, and 熏 gives the sound; the modern 熏 is a shorter form.
Appears in
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.