About
膻 is a phono-semantic compound: the meat radical 月 (ròu) on the left marks its meaning as relating to flesh, meat, or the body, while the phonetic component 亶 (dǎn) on the right hints at the pronunciation. Its primary sense is the strong, rank odor of sheep and goats, often described as a mutton-like or gamey smell, linked to raw meat or unwashed livestock. This meaning later broadened to refer to any foul, animalistic stench. In certain medical and anatomical texts, the character also denoted the center of the chest or the breastbone, though the olfactory definition remains overwhelmingly the most common.
Etymology Hide
Report an issue
Flag incorrect definitions, examples, etymology, etc.