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March 24, 2026
油腻(油膩)yóunì(you2ni4)
油腻 (yóu nì) refers to food that is oily or greasy, often associated with excessive fat content, making it rich and heavy. It can also describe a person's character as slick or untrustworthy. Commonly used in discussions about food preferences and health, this term carries a negative connotation when referring to both food and character.
Frequency#21699DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, food is often a symbol of hospitality and care. Describing food as 油腻 may indicate that it lacks healthiness or thoughtfulness in preparation, reflecting broader societal trends towards healthier eating.
Memory Tip
Imagine a slippery, greasy oil spill (油) that makes everything sticky and hard to manage (腻). To remember '油腻,' picture a chef pouring too much oil into a dish, making it not just rich but also unappetizing. The sound 'yóu' could remind you of 'you,' as in 'too much oil is not good for you!'
Meanings of 油腻
yóunì(you2ni4)
1grease
2greasy food
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 油腻
油腻Simplified
油膩Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
名形词xíngróngcíadj-noun (adj.-n.)Part of Speech
#21699Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7HSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 油腻
Podcast: 油腻
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AI Study Notes for 油腻
Quick Contrast
油腻 (yóunì) vs 重 (zhòng) — use 油腻 for describing greasy food specifically, while 重 refers to heaviness in a broader sense.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a slippery, greasy oil spill (油) that makes everything sticky and hard to manage (腻). To remember '油腻,' picture a chef pouring too much oil into a dish, making it not just rich but also unappetizing. The sound 'yóu' could remind you of 'you,' as in 'too much oil is not good for you!'
Usage Notes
Be cautious when using 油腻 in conversation, as it can come off as critical, especially regarding someone's cooking. It is predominantly used in informal contexts to describe food or someone's demeanor. Common collocations include '油腻的食物' (greasy food) and '油腻的性格' (greasy character).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 油腻 connects with other food-related vocabulary and adjectives describing texture and flavor. Students should focus on recognizing it in culinary discussions and practicing its use in describing both food and character traits.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, food is often a symbol of hospitality and care. Describing food as 油腻 may indicate that it lacks healthiness or thoughtfulness in preparation, reflecting broader societal trends towards healthier eating.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 油腻 with 油性 (oily), which refers specifically to oiliness in texture rather than the negative connotation of greasiness. For example, saying '这道菜是油性' (This dish is oily) is less common; '这道菜太油腻了' is preferred.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 油腻
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Grammar Patterns of 油腻
油腻 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 7 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
一团____的黑色烟雾飘到悬崖顶上。
A pall of oily black smoke drifted over the cliff-top.
Example Sentences for 油腻 (10)
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1
一团油腻的黑色烟雾飘到悬崖顶上。
yī tuán yóu nì de hēi sè yān wù piāo dào xuán yá dǐng shàng。
A pall of oily black smoke drifted over the cliff-top.
2
他吃油腻的东西太多,胃很难受.
tā chī yóu nì de dōng xī tài duō, , wèi hěn nán.
He upset his stomach by eating too much rich food.
3
这养阴, 不油腻的乳液吸收快, 不增加香味.
zhè yǎng yīn, , bù yóu nì de rǔ yè xī shōu, kuài , bù zēng jiā.
This nourishing, non - greasy lotion absorbs quickly, without added fragrance.
4
他吃了大量的脂肪性或油腻的食物后感到饱胀 吗 ?
tā chī le dà liáng de zhī fáng xìng huò yóu nì de shí wù hòu gǎn dào bǎo zhàng?
Does he feel bloated after a heavy fatty, or greasy meal?
5
上饭馆吃过油腻食物之后,他常受消化不良之苦.
shàng fàn guǎn chī guò yóu nì shí wù zhī hòu, , tā cháng shòu xiāo huà bù liáng zhī.
He was prone to indigestion after rich restaurant meals.
6
当你晕船时,你会厌恶油腻的气味.
dāng nǐ yùn chuán shí, , nǐ huì yàn è yóu nì de qì.
You loathe the smell of greasy food when you are seasick.
7
你如果吃了太多的油腻食物,会把胃弄得不舒服的.
nǐ rú guǒ chī le tài duō de yóu nì shí wù, , huì bǎ wèi nòng dé bù shū fú.
You'll upset your stomach if you eat too much rich food.
8
膳食应该适当, 即不能太油腻也不能太粗淡.
shàn shí yīng gāi shì dāng, , jí bù néng tài yóu nì yě bù néng tài cū.
The diet should be suitable, being neither too rich nor too meagre.
9
过了一会儿，浓味沙司开始显得油腻了。
guò le yī huì ér， ， nóng wèi shā sī kāi shǐ xiǎn dé yóu nì。
After a while, the rich sauce begins to cloy.
10
他头发油腻很讨她嫌.
tā tóu fā yóu nì hěn tǎo tā xián.
His greasy hair repelled her.
Cultural Notes for 油腻
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, food is often a symbol of hospitality and care. Describing food as 油腻 may indicate that it lacks healthiness or thoughtfulness in preparation, reflecting broader societal trends towards healthier eating.
Frequently Asked Questions about 油腻
Yes, you can use 油腻 to describe a person's character, implying they are slick or unreliable.
Yes, it generally carries a negative connotation, suggesting that something is overly greasy or unappealing.
You can say '这道菜太油腻了' (This dish is too greasy) or '他有点油腻的性格' (He has a somewhat slippery character).
