Meanings of 臭
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About 臭
Podcast: 臭
Podcast: 臭
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AI Study Notes for 臭
臭 (chòu) vs 难闻 (nánwén) — use 臭 for a stronger, more negative connotation compared to 难闻, which is more neutral.
Imagine a skunk (known for its stink) with a big 'chou' sign on its back, reminding you that 'chòu' means bad smell. The character 臭 has a 'nose' radical (匕) at the bottom, hinting at its connection to smell.
Learners often confuse 臭 with the more neutral word for 'smell' (味, wèi). Use 臭 in informal contexts to describe something truly unpleasant, while maintaining awareness of its strong negative connotation. Be cautious with the tone; a mispronunciation could change the meaning entirely.
As an HSK Level 5 word, 臭 connects well with other vocabulary relating to the senses (like 感觉, gǎnjué for 'feeling'). Students should focus on recognizing its usage in idiomatic expressions and its antonyms, which often appear in advanced texts.
In Chinese cuisine, certain foods are intentionally fermented or aged to develop strong odors, which can be appreciated culturally, contrasting with a more universally negative view of bad smells in many Western cultures.
Learners often confuse 臭 (chòu) with 香 (xiāng), which means fragrant or good-smelling. A common error is saying '这东西很臭' (zhè dōngxī hěn chòu) without realizing the strong negative implication it carries, which should only be used for genuinely bad smells.
Pronunciation of 臭
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Etymology of 臭
The smell 自 of a dirty dog 犬
Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 臭
Identify the Components
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Write 臭
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Practice writing 臭 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 臭
臭 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 14 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
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这个地方是臭的。
This place is smelly.
Build the Sentence
This place is smelly.
Common Confusions with 臭
Similar pronunciation with a different meaning.
Same pronunciation but different meanings.
臭 means smelly or bad odor, while 香 means fragrant or good smell.
这个味道很臭。 vs. 这个味道很香。
臭 means smelly or bad odor, while 香 means fragrant or good smell.
Spot the Difference
Which character means "stench"?
Usage Notes for 臭
Learners often confuse 臭 with 香. Remember that 臭 is used for bad smells, while 香 is for pleasant ones.
这个食物很臭。
This food smells bad.
这个花香。
This flower is fragrant.
Fill in the Blank
这个食物很____。
This food smells bad.
Example Sentences for 臭 (10)
Cultural Notes for 臭
In Chinese cuisine, certain foods are intentionally fermented or aged to develop strong odors, which can be appreciated culturally, contrasting with a more universally negative view of bad smells in many Western cultures.
Word Family of 臭
Compound Meaning
What does 嗅 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 臭
Some synonyms for 臭 (chòu) include 难闻 (nán wén), which also means 'bad-smelling', and 恶臭 (è chòu), meaning 'foul smell'. These terms can be used interchangeably in many contexts.