Meanings of 臊
By ear
Play it, then pick what 臊 means.
About 臊
Podcast: 臊
Podcast: 臊
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 臊
羞 (xiū) - use 臊 (sāo) for a sense of embarrassment tied to social situations or unpleasant smells, whereas 羞 (xiū) emphasizes general shyness or shame without the odor connotation.
Be careful not to confuse 臊 (sāo) with similar sounding words; using it in the wrong context can lead to misunderstandings. It's more commonly used in informal situations, especially when discussing feelings of embarrassment. Phrases like '感到臊' (to feel shy) are common.
Although 臊 is not in the HSK levels, it can be linked with feelings of shyness and embarrassment, which are important concepts for learners at the beginner level. Focus on using this word in phrases to express emotions, as it can enhance conversational skills.
Learners often mistakenly use 臊 to describe general feelings of discomfort, when it specifically relates to shyness or unpleasant smells. For example, saying '我很臊在这里' (I'm very uncomfortable here) should be corrected to '我觉得不自在' (I feel uneasy here).
Pronunciation of 臊
Drill the tone of 臊 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason Explains 臊 to you
Let me explain 臊 for you
Make it yours
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 臊 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.
How well do you know 臊?
Learning Lab
Knowing 臊 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
- MeaningFree
- CharacterFree
- PinyinFree
- TonePro
- ListeningPro
- SpeakingPro
- WritingPro
Etymology of 臊
Phonosemantic compound. ⺼ represents the meaning and 喿 represents the sound.
flesh
Origin
臊 = ⺼ + 喿. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 臊
Parts
Which of these is part of 臊?
How to say shy, bashful; rank, fetid; the smell of urine in Chinese
“shy, bashful; rank, fetid; the smell of urine” in Chinese is臊
The character 臊 (sāo) primarily refers to feelings of shyness or bashfulness, often in social contexts where one might feel embarrassed. It can also denote unpleasant smells, particularly related to urine, indicating a sense of odor or shame associated with it. This duality captures both emotional and physical aspects of discomfort.
When to use 臊
Be careful not to confuse 臊 (sāo) with similar sounding words; using it in the wrong context can lead to misunderstandings. It's more commonly used in informal situations, especially when discussing feelings of embarrassment. Phrases like '感到臊' (to feel shy) are common.
臊 or something close to it
羞 (xiū) - use 臊 (sāo) for a sense of embarrassment tied to social situations or unpleasant smells, whereas 羞 (xiū) emphasizes general shyness or shame without the odor connotation.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 臊 to describe general feelings of discomfort, when it specifically relates to shyness or unpleasant smells. For example, saying '我很臊在这里' (I'm very uncomfortable here) should be corrected to '我觉得不自在' (I feel uneasy here).
Write 臊
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 臊 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar patterns of 臊
臊 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 6 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.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他还想抵赖，真不害____！
He tried to deny it. Shame on him!
Example sentences for 臊 (2)
Ask Jason
Have a question about 臊?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.
Word Family of 臊
Words with 臊
What does 害臊 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 臊
No, 臊 can refer to both physical smells and feelings of embarrassment.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 臊?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.