味

wèi

口 + 未

HSK 3.0Level 4

Frequency#844

Definitions

wèi (noun) taste; flavor

wèi (noun) smell; odor

wèi (noun) sense; feeling; quality

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 未 represents the sound.

Semantic: 口 Phonetic: 未

About

The character "味" is structured as a phono-semantic compound with the semantic component "口", representing the mouth, and the phonetic component "未", which historically indicated its pronunciation. Originally, "味" specifically denoted taste or flavor as perceived by the mouth, but its meaning gradually expanded to encompass abstract concepts such as significance, interest, or the essence of something. This semantic shift occurred without alteration to the character's fundamental composition of "口" and "未".

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

牛奶味道很好。

Niúnǎi wèidao hěn hǎo.

Milk tastes very good.

我喜欢甜的味道。

Wǒ xǐhuān tián de wèidao.

I like sweet tastes.

这道菜有辣味。

Zhè dào cài yǒu là wèi.

This dish has a spicy flavor.

他做的菜很有味道。

Tā zuò de cài hěn yǒu wèidao.

The dishes he cooks are very flavorful.

生活有各种味道。

Shēnghuó yǒu gè zhǒng wèidao.

Life has various flavors.

这种水果的味道非常独特。

Zhè zhǒng shuǐguǒ de wèidao fēicháng dútè.

The taste of this fruit is very unique.

通过品尝，我学会了分辨不同的味道。

Tōngguò pǐncháng, wǒ xuéhuì le fēnbiàn bùtóng de wèidao.

Through tasting, I learned to distinguish different flavors.

在人生的旅程中，我们都会尝到成功的滋味。

Zài rénshēng de lǚchéng zhōng, wǒmen dōu huì cháng dào chénggōng de zīwèi.

In the journey of life, we will all taste the flavor of success.

Related Characters

Component: 口

Component: 未

味