香艳 (xiāng yàn) — romantically or sexually suggestive in an elegant, literary way; glamorous (of an artistic or fictional depiction)

Definition

A literary, often slightly old-fashioned adjective for depictions that blend romance, sensuality, and elegance — typically used to describe writing or art, not people directly. It carries a glamorous, old-world tone rather than a crude or vulgar one.

adjective
romantically or sexually suggestive in an elegant, literary wayglamorous (of an artistic or fictional depiction)

Examples

  • 香艳。
    Zhè běn xiǎo shuō lǐ yǒu hěn duō xiāng yàn de miáo xiě.
    This novel contains many erotic-romantic descriptions.
  • 香艳。
    Gǔ dài cái zǐ jiā rén de gù shi wǎng wǎng shí fēn xiāng yàn.
    Stories of talented scholars and beautiful ladies from ancient times are often very romantic and suggestive.
  • 香艳，。
    Tā bù xǐ huan xiāng yàn de diàn yǐng, gèng ài kàn jì shí piàn.
    He doesn't like romantic-suggestive movies; he prefers documentaries.

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.

香xiāngfragrant
艳yàngorgeous

香 suggests fragrance and 艳 suggests beauty; together they describe a glamorous, sensual quality.

Characters in this word

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 →

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 豔; 艳 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
豐豐fēngabundant, great
Sound part声符shēngfú
盇
盇hé豔yàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 豔 pairs 豐 (abundant, great) with a sound component 盇; the simplified 艳 is a later abbreviation.

Open 艳 →

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