香醇 (xiāng chún) — rich and mellow (of flavor or aroma)

Definition

Used for drinks and foods (coffee, wine, chocolate) to praise a rich, full, mellow aroma and taste — stronger praise than just 好吃 or 好喝. Pairs with 的 + noun.

adjective
rich and mellow (of flavor or aroma)

Examples

  • 香醇，。
    Zhè bēi kā fēi wèi dào xiāng chún, fēi cháng hǎo hē.
    This cup of coffee tastes rich and mellow, very delicious.
  • 香醇。
    xiāng chún De hóng jiǔ ràng rén huí wèi wú qióng.
    The mellow red wine leaves an endless aftertaste.
  • 香醇。
    Wǒ xǐ huan zhè zhǒng xiāng chún de qiǎo kè lì.
    I like this kind of rich and mellow chocolate.

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
醇chúnmellow

香 means fragrant and 醇 means mellow, giving a rich and mellow flavor.

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.

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 →

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