辣味 (là wèi) — hot taste, spiciness, pungency | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

hot tastespicinesspungency

Examples

辣味。
Wǒ xǐ huan zhè zhǒng là wèi.
I like this kind of hot taste.
辣味。
Zhè ge cài de là wèi bǐ nà ge cài gèng zhòng.
The spiciness of this dish is stronger than that one.
辣味，。
Zhè dào cài de là wèi hěn zú, chī le ràng rén hěn guò yǐn.
The spiciness of this dish is very strong; eating it is very satisfying.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

辣 gives the spicy quality, and 味 refers to taste, making hot taste.

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.

辛束辣

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

束

剌là辣là

Same sound today

辣 is built from 辛, which carries the meaning, and 束, written in full as 剌, which carries the sound.

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

口未味

Meaning part形符xíngfú

口口kǒumouth

Sound part声符shēngfú

未

未wèi味wèi

Same sound today

味 combines 口 (mouth) with 未, which gives the sound wèi; the mouth part relates to taste.

Appears in

Flavors & Seasonings

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