腥 (xīng) — fishy (smell or taste) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Strictly the smell or taste of fish or raw seafood. 臭 is the everyday word for any bad smell; 腥 is a narrower, fish-specific scent — not just any stink.

adjective

fishy (smell or taste)

Easily confused

醒xǐnglook-aliketo wake up; to be awake

Examples

，。
Zhè ròu yǒu xīng wèi, bié chī le.
This meat has a fishy smell; don't eat it.
腥，。
Zhè yú hěn xīng, wǒ bù xiǎng chī.
This fish is very fishy; I don't want to eat it.
。
Wǒ bù xǐ huan xīng wèi.
I don't like the fishy smell.

Origin

Sound + meaning

六书liùshū

形声xíngshēng

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; flesh

Sound part声符shēngfú

星

星xīng腥xīng

Same sound today

腥 combines 肉 (meat; flesh) with 星, which supplies its sound.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 HSK 2.0 Level 6 Flavors & Seasonings

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