Meaning
fragrant; incense; (of food) savory; appetizing; sweet; scented
Chinese: 食物。
Hear the Four Tones
The same syllable “xiang” becomes a different word in each tone. 香 is the 1st tone. Tap any tone to hear a native voice and see its pitch shape.
Stroke Order
Tap Animate to watch the strokes in order, or Practice to trace it yourself.
Common Words
- 香蕉xiāng jiāobanana
- 香肠xiāng chángsausage
- 香水xiāng shuǐperfume; cologne
- 香烟xiāng yānsmoke from incense (burned as an offering to one's ancestors); (fig.) continuation of family line; cigarette (
- 香味xiāng wèifragrance; bouquet; sweet smell
Example Sentence
厨房里飘来一阵饭菜的香味。Chú fáng lǐ piāo lái yí zhèn fàn cài de xiāng wèi.The smell of food wafted from the kitchen.
厨房Chú fángkitchen里lǐinside飘piāocomplacent来láito come一阵yí zhèna burst饭菜fàn càifood的deof香味xiāng wèifragrance。
Go deeper
Where this character comes from
Grain (禾) over a 日 element (originally 甘, ‘sweet’): the sweet smell of ripe grain. It means ‘fragrant / sweet-smelling’.
A way to remember it
The sweet smell rising off grain (禾) — fragrant.