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March 24, 2026
气味(氣味)qìwèi(qi4wei4)
气味 (qìwèi) refers to the smell or scent of something, encompassing both pleasant and unpleasant odors. It is commonly used in contexts related to food, nature, and personal hygiene. Understanding this word is essential for expressing preferences in scents or discussing environmental factors.
Frequency#4310DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 气味 is deeply linked to food. The smell of dishes is often discussed, as it can enhance the dining experience and reflects the skill of the cook. Traditional Chinese medicine also emphasizes the importance of scent in health and well-being.
Memory Tip
Think of the character 气 (qì) meaning 'air' and 味 (wèi) meaning 'taste'—together they evoke the idea of the 'smell' in the air. Imagine walking through a market filled with various scents wafting through the air, allowing you to 'taste' the atmosphere.
Meanings of 气味
qìwèi(qi4wei4)
1odor
2scent
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About 气味
气味Simplified
氣味Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#4310Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 气味
Podcast: 气味
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AI Study Notes for 气味
Quick Contrast
气息 (qìxī) — use 气味 for general smells, while 气息 specifically refers to a breath or a more subtle scent.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of the character 气 (qì) meaning 'air' and 味 (wèi) meaning 'taste'—together they evoke the idea of the 'smell' in the air. Imagine walking through a market filled with various scents wafting through the air, allowing you to 'taste' the atmosphere.
Usage Notes
气味 can describe both good and bad odors, so be careful with context. It is more common in informal settings; in formal writing, you might use a synonym like '香味' (xiāngwèi) for pleasant smells. Watch out for tonal mistakes, as mispronouncing the tones can lead to confusion.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 气味 connects with other sensory vocabulary like '味道' (wèidào, taste) and '香味' (xiāngwèi, fragrance). Students should focus on using it in descriptive sentences to enhance their expressive capabilities.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 气味 is deeply linked to food. The smell of dishes is often discussed, as it can enhance the dining experience and reflects the skill of the cook. Traditional Chinese medicine also emphasizes the importance of scent in health and well-being.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 气味 with 味道 (wèidào), which specifically means 'taste.' For example, saying '这个食物的气味很好' (This food's taste is good) is incorrect; it should be '这个食物的味道很好.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 气味
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Grammar Patterns of 气味
气味 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 2 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.
The barn was filled with the sour-sweet smell of fresh dung.
6
你喜欢哪种气味呢？
nǐ xǐ huān nǎ zhǒng qì wèi ne？
What is your favourite smell?
7
这里有猫的难闻气味.
zhè lǐ yǒu māo de nán wén qì wèi.
There's a stink of cats in here.
8
闻到这令人作呕的气味,他皱眉蹙额.
wén dào zhè líng rén zuò ǒu de qì wèi, , tā zhòu méi cù.
He screwed up his face at the nasty smell.
9
接着他闻到了烧饭的气味.
jiē zháo tā wén dào le shāo fàn de qì wèi.
Then he smelled food cooking.
10
她闻到这气味就皱起了鼻子.
tā wén dào zhè qì wèi jiù zhòu qǐ le bí zǐ.
She wrinkled her nose at the smell.
Cultural Notes for 气味
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of 气味 is deeply linked to food. The smell of dishes is often discussed, as it can enhance the dining experience and reflects the skill of the cook. Traditional Chinese medicine also emphasizes the importance of scent in health and well-being.
Frequently Asked Questions about 气味
No, 气味 can refer to both good and bad smells, so the context is important.
You can say '这个花的气味很好' (This flower has a nice scent).
气味 is more commonly used in informal contexts; for formal writing, consider using 香味.
