薰香 (xūn xiāng) — incense; fragrance; perfume

Definition

noun
incensefragranceperfume
Measure word · 根

Examples

  • 薰香。
    Tā xǐ huan zài fáng jiān lǐ diǎn xūn xiāng.
    She likes to light incense in the room.
  • 薰香。
    Zhè zhǒng xūn xiāng de wèi dào hěn dàn.
    The scent of this fragrance is very light.
  • 薰香。
    Tā mǎi le yì hé xūn xiāng sòng gěi mǔ qīn.
    He bought a box of incense for his mother.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

薰xūnfragrance
香xiāngfragrance

薰 and 香 both convey fragrance, so the word names incense or perfume.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
艸艸cǎo
Sound part声符shēngfú
熏
熏xūn薰xūn
Same sound today

薰 combines 艸, a plant form, with 熏, which gives the sound.

Open 薰 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

香's early form paired 黍 (glutinous millet) with 口 (mouth), perhaps showing millet drink being taken in or offered.

Open 香 →

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