Meanings of 膻
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About 膻
Podcast: 膻
Podcast: 膻
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AI Study Notes for 膻
羊肉 (yángròu, lamb) — use 膻 (shān) when emphasizing the unpleasant odor associated with lamb, while 羊肉 (yángròu) simply refers to the meat itself without any connotation of smell.
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 膻, as a mispronunciation can lead to confusion with other words. It is primarily used in informal contexts, especially in culinary discussions. Common collocations include '膻味' (shānwèi, 'gamey taste') and '膻气' (shānqì, 'rank smell').
While 膻 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be connected to HSK words related to food and animals, like 羊 (yáng, 'sheep') and 肉 (ròu, 'meat'). Focus on the context of food and odors to enhance retention.
Learners often confuse 膻 with 羶 (shān), which also relates to the smell of sheep but is less common. For example, saying '这肉膻' (Zhè ròu shān) is incorrect; it should be '这肉有膻味' (Zhè ròu yǒu shānwèi) meaning 'This meat has a gamey taste.'
Pronunciation of 膻
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Etymology of 膻
meat
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 膻
- 1The meaning half⺼ carries the sense.
- 2The sound half亶 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaymeat
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 膻? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 膻
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How to say a flock of sheep; a rank odor in Chinese
“a flock of sheep; a rank odor” in Chinese is膻
The character 膻 (shān) primarily refers to a strong, rank odor, particularly associated with certain meats like lamb. It can also denote a flock of sheep or goats, often in agricultural contexts. This word carries a nuance of unpleasantness when describing smells, making it useful in culinary discussions or when discussing animal husbandry.
When to use 膻
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 膻, as a mispronunciation can lead to confusion with other words. It is primarily used in informal contexts, especially in culinary discussions. Common collocations include '膻味' (shānwèi, 'gamey taste') and '膻气' (shānqì, 'rank smell').
膻 or something close to it
羊肉 (yángròu, lamb) — use 膻 (shān) when emphasizing the unpleasant odor associated with lamb, while 羊肉 (yángròu) simply refers to the meat itself without any connotation of smell.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 膻 with 羶 (shān), which also relates to the smell of sheep but is less common. For example, saying '这肉膻' (Zhè ròu shān) is incorrect; it should be '这肉有膻味' (Zhè ròu yǒu shānwèi) meaning 'This meat has a gamey taste.'
Write 膻
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Practice writing 膻 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 膻
膻 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
用这种羊肉烹制出的菜肴, 不腥不____, 味美异常.
Lamb cooked in this dish out, do not smell of mutton is not fishy, taste abnormalities.
Example Sentences for 膻 (1)
Word Family of 膻
Compound Meaning
What does 膻 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 膻
膻 primarily means a strong, rank odor associated with lamb or goat meat, and it can also refer to a flock of sheep.
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