Definition
嗅到 is a resultative verb compound (r.v.) formed by 嗅 (to sniff) + 到 (to reach/arrive). It means 'to smell something successfully' or 'to catch the scent of something', emphasizing the result of the smelling action. Unlike the simple verb 闻 (to sniff), 嗅到 focuses on the outcome — you actually perceived the odor. It is used with a direct object, typically the thing smelled.
r.v.
to smell (and detect)to catch a whiff ofto sniff out
Examples
- 嗅到。Wǒ zǒu jìn huāyuán jiù xiù dào le huāxiāng.As soon as I walked into the garden, I smelled the fragrance of flowers.
- 嗅到。Gǒu yuǎn yuǎn de xiù dào le wēixiǎn de qìxī.The dog smelled the dangerous scent from far away.
- 嗅到？。Nǐ xiù dào méiyǒu? Hǎoxiàng yǒu dōngxi shāo jiāo le.Did you smell it? It seems something is burning.
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