fragrant

JLPT N1 9 strokes

Words with this Kanji

Meaning and Usage

The character (xiāng) primarily means "fragrant" or "aromatic." It is commonly used to describe pleasant smells, especially those of flowers, food, or incense.

Common Contexts

is often used in everyday conversation to praise the smell of food (), flowers (), or incense (). It can also describe appealing scents in perfumes or natural aromas.

Collocations and Patterns

  • (xiāngwèi): fragrance, aroma — used to describe the scent of food, flowers, or perfumes.
  • (hěn xiāng): very fragrant — a common phrase to express that something smells good.
  • (xiāngyān): cigarette — literally "fragrant smoke," though the smell is often unpleasant.

Nuances

While generally has a positive connotation, in some contexts like (cigarette smoke), the smell may be unpleasant or cause discomfort. Be aware of context to understand whether implies a pleasant or negative scent.

Common Confusions

can be confused with 芳 (fāng), which also means fragrant but is more literary or formal. is more common in daily speech.

Using correctly helps learners describe smells vividly and naturally in Mandarin.

Example Sentences

This flower is very fragrant and attracted many bees.

The food mom cooked smells especially good, making people want to eat more.

The smell of cigarettes makes him feel uncomfortable.