气味 qìwèi odor
odor; scent
How to remember 气味: 气 air + 味 taste = odor.
Characters
How it is used
- An odor/smell/scent - 难闻的气味 (nánwén de qìwèi) an unpleasant smell, 一股气味 (yì gǔ qìwèi) a whiff of odor.
- The neutral word for any smell (good or bad); also figurative 气味相投 (qìwèi xiāngtóu) kindred spirits/like-minded.
- Contrast 味道 (wèidao, taste/flavor, also smell); 气味 is specifically the smell in the air.
Example sentences
- 这是什么气味？ Zhèshì shénme qìwèi?What's this smell?