unknown, 17 strokes, radical 艹, rank #12935, Very Hard
薰
xūn
Coumarouna odorata
unknown, 17 strokes, radical 艹, rank #12935, Very Hard
薰
xūn
tonka beans
unknown, 17 strokes, radical 艹, rank #12935, Very Hard
薰
xūn
coumarin
unknown, 17 strokes, radical 艹, rank #12935, Very Hard
xūn(xun1)xun T1
1a medicinal herb; to cauterize
2sweet-smelling grass
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March 24, 2026
薰xūn(xun1)
The character 薰 (xūn) primarily refers to a sweet-smelling herb or plant, particularly those used in traditional medicine or for their fragrant properties. It can also imply the action of cauterizing, which relates to applying heat to tissue to cause a therapeutic effect. Commonly, it is associated with scents derived from plants, making it relevant in contexts involving herbal medicine and perfumery.
Strokes17Radical艹Frequency#12935DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese medicine, fragrant herbs like 薰 are often used for their therapeutic effects, reflecting a deep connection between nature and health in Chinese culture. Furthermore, the use of these herbs in incense and tea ceremonies highlights their importance in daily life and rituals.
Memory Tip
Imagine a beautiful garden filled with fragrant herbs like tonka beans, which are sweet-smelling and often used in perfumes. The character 薰 has the radical 艹 (cǎo), meaning 'grass,' at the top, suggesting its herbal nature. Picture yourself breathing in the soothing scent of these plants as you remember the sound 'xūn' – like a gentle 'tune' of nature.
Meanings of 薰
xūn(xun1)
1a medicinal herb; to cauterize
2sweet-smelling grass
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 薰 means.
About 薰
薰Simplified
17Strokes
艹Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 薰
Podcast: 薰
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AI Study Notes for 薰
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 薰 with similar-sounding characters, so it's important to pay attention to tone and context. This word is more formal and is typically used in contexts relating to herbal medicine or specific fragrances. Common collocations include 薰香 (xūnxiāng), meaning 'to scent' or 'to perfume', which emphasizes its aromatic qualities.
HSK Study Tips
Although 薰 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects with words related to herbs and medicine, such as 药 (yào, medicine) and 香 (xiāng, fragrant). Students should focus on understanding the herbal context and pronunciation, as well as similar characters with the 'grass' radical to build a broader vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners might mistakenly write 薰 with the wrong tone, such as 'xùn', which alters its meaning entirely. Another common error is confusing it with characters that have similar radicals but different meanings, like 薄 (bó, meaning 'thin').
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 薰
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How Well Do You Know 薰?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 薰 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.
薰 = 艹 + 熏. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 薰
IDS Structure⿱艹熏
薰Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
熏xun1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 薰?
How to say a medicinal herb; to cauterize in Chinese
“a medicinal herb; to cauterize” in Chinese is薰xūn
The character 薰 (xūn) primarily refers to a sweet-smelling herb or plant, particularly those used in traditional medicine or for their fragrant properties. It can also imply the action of cauterizing, which relates to applying heat to tissue to cause a therapeutic effect. Commonly, it is associated with scents derived from plants, making it relevant in contexts involving herbal medicine and perfumery.
When to use 薰
Learners often confuse 薰 with similar-sounding characters, so it's important to pay attention to tone and context. This word is more formal and is typically used in contexts relating to herbal medicine or specific fragrances. Common collocations include 薰香 (xūnxiāng), meaning 'to scent' or 'to perfume', which emphasizes its aromatic qualities.
What learners get wrong
Learners might mistakenly write 薰 with the wrong tone, such as 'xùn', which alters its meaning entirely. Another common error is confusing it with characters that have similar radicals but different meanings, like 薄 (bó, meaning 'thin').
Write 薰
薰
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Practice writing 薰 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 薰
薰 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 5 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
上的刻痕.有一幅图画描绘了两个男人正在烟____蜂巢的情景.
One drawing shows two men smoking out a bees'nest.
Example Sentences for 薰 (7)
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1
上的刻痕.有一幅图画描绘了两个男人正在烟薰蜂巢的情景.
shàng de kè hén. . yǒu yī fú tú huà miáo huì le liǎng gè nán rén zhèng zài yān xūn fēng cháo de qíng.
One drawing shows two men smoking out a bees'nest.
