有滋有味 (yǒu zī yǒu wèi) — interesting and enjoyable; delightful; with great relish; avidly

Definition

An idiom meaning 'with great relish' — used both for food (delicious, flavorful) and for activities done with keen enjoyment. The first 味/滋 pair highlights taste, the second pair extends the image to any absorbing experience.

idiom
interesting and enjoyabledelightfulwith great relishavidly

Examples

  • 有滋有味，。
    Tā bǎ shēng huó guò dé yǒu zī yǒu wèi, měi tiān dōu hěn kāi xīn.
    He lives his life with great relish, happy every day.
  • 有滋有味，。
    Zhè dùn fàn zuò dé yǒu zī yǒu wèi, dà jiā chī dé zàn bù jué kǒu.
    This meal was prepared deliciously, and everyone couldn't stop praising it.
  • 有滋有味，。
    Tā kàn shū kàn dé yǒu zī yǒu wèi, lián fàn dōu wàng le chī.
    She read the book so avidly that she forgot to eat.

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.

有滋having flavor
有yǒuhave滋zīflavor
动宾Verb + object
有味having taste
有yǒuhave味wèitaste
动宾Verb + object

有滋 and 有味 both say there is flavor, emphasizing richness and delight.

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
肉肉ròumeat
Sound part声符shēngfú
又
又yòu有yǒu
Same sound today

The form 有 combines 又, used for its sound, with a shape from 肉, 'meat'; the hand-holding-meat story is a folk explanation, not shown in the oldest shape.

Open 有 →

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
水水shuǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
茲
茲zī滋zī
Same sound today

滋 pairs 水 (water) with 茲, which gives it its sound.

Open 滋 →

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
肉肉ròumeat
Sound part声符shēngfú
又
又yòu有yǒu
Same sound today

The form 有 combines 又, used for its sound, with a shape from 肉, 'meat'; the hand-holding-meat story is a folk explanation, not shown in the oldest shape.

Open 有 →

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
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.

Open 味 →

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