气味 (qì wèi) — smell, odor, scent | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

气味 (qìwèi) means 'smell / odor' — both pleasant and unpleasant — and is the most neutral, general-purpose word. 味道 emphasizes taste or flavor and is informal for smells; 气息 is more literary and often figurative ('atmosphere, feel').

noun

smellodorscent

Measure word · 种

Examples

气味。
Huā diàn lǐ de qì wèi zhēn ràng rén xīn qíng yú kuài.
The scent in the flower shop really makes people feel happy.
气味。
Wǒ cóng lái méi wén guò zhè zhǒng qì wèi.
I've never smelled this kind of smell before.
气味。
Xià shuǐ dào lǐ chuán lái yì gǔ nán wén de qì wèi.
A foul smell came from the sewer.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

气 (odor) and 味 (taste) stand side by side, giving the sense of smell or scent.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 氣; 气 is its simplified writing.

气米氣

Meaning part形符xíngfú

米米mǐrice

Sound part声符shēngfú

气

气qì氣qì

Same sound today

The traditional form 氣 pairs 米 (rice) with 气, which supplies the sound; the simplified 气 is a later abbreviation.

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

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