Definitions

xiāng (adjective) fragrant; sweet smelling; aromatic
xiāng (noun) incense; joss stick
xiāng (noun) spice; seasoning
xiāng (noun) fragrance; perfume

Etymology

Represents the sweet () smell of fresh grain ().

About

The character for fragrance, "香", is structurally composed of elements representing grain and sweetness, originally depicting the pleasing aroma of cooked millet or sacrificial offerings. Its traditional form maintains this composition of "黍" (grain) over "甘" (sweet), a configuration which visually anchored its early meaning in the concrete sensory experience of food and ritual. From this specific origin, the semantic field of the character broadened considerably to encompass all agreeable smells, from incense to flowers, while also acquiring more abstract connotations, such as something being savory, popular, or even睡得香 (sleeping soundly), demonstrating a natural extension from physical aroma to metaphorical desirability.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这朵花很

Zhè duǒ huā hěn xiāng.

This flower is very fragrant.

妈妈做的饭真

Māma zuò de fàn zhēn xiāng.

The food mom cooks is really delicious.

早上我吃了肠。

Zǎoshang wǒ chī le xiāngcháng.

I ate sausage this morning.

我喜欢吃蕉。

Wǒ xǐhuan chī xiāngjiāo.

I like to eat bananas.

咖啡的味很好闻。

Kāfēi de xiāngwèi hěn hǎo wén.

The aroma of coffee is very pleasant to smell.

这个皂有柠檬味。

Zhège xiāngzào yǒu níngméng wèi.

This bar of soap has a lemon scent.

能让人静下心来。

Shūxiāng néng ràng rén jìng xià xīnlái.

The scent of books can help one calm down.

桂花气弥漫在秋夜中。

Guìhuā xiāngqì mímàn zài qiū yè zhōng.

The fragrance of osmanthus permeates the autumn night.