Meanings of 餿
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About 餿
Podcast: 餿
Podcast: 餿
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AI Study Notes for 餿
腐 (fǔ) - use 餿 (sōu) for food that has spoiled specifically due to rancidity, while 腐 (fǔ) refers more broadly to decay or rot.
Be careful not to confuse 餿 with similar-sounding characters like 嗅 (xiù), which means to smell. This term is typically used in informal contexts, often in conversations about cooking or food quality. Common collocations include 餿的食物 (spoiled food) or 餿味 (rancid smell).
Though not officially listed in HSK levels, 餿 can be useful for learners focusing on food-related vocabulary. It connects with other food descriptors and helps in forming sentences about food quality. Pay attention to pronunciation, particularly the tone.
Learners often confuse 餿 with the character 叟 (sǒu), which means 'old man'. An example mistake would be saying 餿的老人 (the spoiled old man) instead of using 餿 correctly for food. Always ensure you’re using the right context for the character.
Pronunciation of 餿
Drill the tone of 餿 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 餿
Old 叟 food 飠; 叟 also provides the pronunciation
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 餿
- 1The giveawayOld 叟 food 飠; 叟 also provides the pronunciation
- 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 餿? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 餿
Identify the Components
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How to say spoiled, rotten; stale, rancid in Chinese
“spoiled, rotten; stale, rancid” in Chinese is餿
The character 餿 (sōu) refers to food that has spoiled or gone bad, often associated with a rancid or unpleasant smell. It is commonly used in contexts involving food safety, cooking, and the freshness of ingredients, highlighting a negative quality of edibility.
When to use 餿
Be careful not to confuse 餿 with similar-sounding characters like 嗅 (xiù), which means to smell. This term is typically used in informal contexts, often in conversations about cooking or food quality. Common collocations include 餿的食物 (spoiled food) or 餿味 (rancid smell).
餿 or something close to it
腐 (fǔ) - use 餿 (sōu) for food that has spoiled specifically due to rancidity, while 腐 (fǔ) refers more broadly to decay or rot.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 餿 with the character 叟 (sǒu), which means 'old man'. An example mistake would be saying 餿的老人 (the spoiled old man) instead of using 餿 correctly for food. Always ensure you’re using the right context for the character.
Write 餿
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Practice writing 餿 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 餿
Compound Meaning
What does 馊主意 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 餿
变质 (biànzhì) is a more general term for 'deterioration' that can apply to non-food items, while 餿 specifically refers to food that has spoiled.
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