醇香 (chún xiāng) — rich aroma (of spirits or wine)

Definition

醇香 (chúnxiāng) names the rich, mellow fragrance of aged wine or spirits — stronger and deeper than a plain 香. Often used for baijiu, aged liquor, or well-brewed tea.

noun
rich aroma (of spirits or wine)

Examples

  • 醇香。
    Zhè píng máo tái jiǔ de chún xiāng fēi cháng nóng yù.
    The rich aroma of this bottle of Moutai is very strong.
  • ，醇香。
    Yì dǎ kāi jiǔ tán, chún xiāng jiù pū bí ér lái.
    As soon as the wine jar is opened, the rich aroma fills the nose.
  • 醇香，。
    Wǒ xǐ huan zhè zhǒng chún xiāng, ràng rén gǎn jué wēn nuǎn.
    I like this kind of rich aroma; it makes one feel warm.

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.

醇chúnmellow
香xiāngfragrance

醇 gives a mellow, pure quality and 香 is fragrance, together suggesting a rich aroma.

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
酉酉yǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
𦎧
𦎧𦎧醇chún
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

醇 is built from 酉 and 𦎧, with 𦎧 giving the sound.

Open 醇 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

香's early form paired 黍 (glutinous millet) with 口 (mouth), perhaps showing millet drink being taken in or offered.

Open 香 →

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