香 xiāng fragrant
fragrant; tasty; sound (sleep)
How to remember 香: 禾 grain + 日 sun = fragrant. The baker sets loaves of fresh grain bread to cool in the morning sun, and the whole street smells fragrant.
Component breakdown
香 = 禾 grain + 日 sun
- 禾 grain
- 日 sun
The baker sets loaves of fresh grain bread to cool in the morning sun, and the whole street smells fragrant.
How it came to be
Grain above a mouth tasting something sweet; the mouth has worn down into the sun shape. The good smell of grain cooking.
How it is used
- Adjective "fragrant / tasty-smelling": 这个菜真香 (zhège cài zhēn xiāng) this dish smells/tastes great. Also used of a good deep sleep: 睡得很香.
- Bound in food/scent words: 香蕉 (xiāngjiāo) banana, 香水 (xiāngshuǐ) perfume, 香肠 (xiāngcháng) sausage, 香油 (xiāngyóu) sesame oil.
- Note it's not just "perfumed" - for food 香 praises the appetizing smell/flavor, where English would say "smells delicious."
Characters built with 香
Words with 香
Example sentences
- 妈妈买了一瓶香水。 Māma mǎile yì píng xiāngshuǐ.Mom bought a bottle of perfume.
- 他手里拿着一支香蕉。 Tā shǒu lǐ názhe yì zhī xiāngjiāo.He's holding a banana in his hand.