(xiù) — to smell; to sniff

Definition

嗅 (xiù) is the deliberate, transitive 'to sniff' — the act of smelling, not the smell itself. Compared to 闻, it emphasizes a focused sniff, often of an animal or in pursuit of a scent.

verb
to smellto sniff

Examples

  • Tā còu jìn huā duǒ, qīng qīng xiù le yí xià.
    She leaned close to the flower and gave it a gentle sniff.
  • Jǐng quǎn zhèng zài xiù xíng li xiāng, xún zhǎo wéi jìn pǐn.
    The police dog is sniffing the suitcase, searching for contraband.
  • Nǐ xiù yí xià zhè bēi chá, hǎo xiàng yǒu gǔ guài wèi.
    Give this cup of tea a sniff — it seems to have a strange smell.

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