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香 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
香
xiāng
fragrant
HSK 4, ns, 9 strokes, radical 香, rank #2455, Medium
香
xiāng
sweet smelling
HSK 4, ns, 9 strokes, radical 香, rank #2455, Medium
香
xiāng
aromatic
HSK 4, ns, 9 strokes, radical 香, rank #2455, Medium
香
xiāng
savory or appetizing
HSK 4, ns, 9 strokes, radical 香, rank #2455, Medium
香
xiāng
(to eat) with relish
HSK 4, ns, 9 strokes, radical 香, rank #2455, Medium
香
xiāng
(of sleep) sound
HSK 4, ns, 9 strokes, radical 香, rank #2455, Medium
香
xiāng
perfume or spice
HSK 4, ns, 9 strokes, radical 香, rank #2455, Medium
香
xiāng
joss or incense stick
HSK 4, ns, 9 strokes, radical 香, rank #2455, Medium
香
xiāng
incense; fragrant, aromatic
HSK 4, ns, 9 strokes, radical 香, rank #2455, Medium
xiāng(xiang1)xiang T1
1fragrant
2sweet smelling
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March 24, 2026
香xiāng(xiang1)
The character 香 (xiāng) refers to something that emits a pleasant aroma or fragrance. It is commonly used to describe food, flowers, and perfumes, as well as to express enjoyment or relish in experiences associated with good smells or tastes.
Strokes9Radical香Frequency#2455DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, 香 is often associated with food and hospitality. For instance, during festivals, the aroma of traditional dishes is significant for celebrating family and togetherness, highlighting the importance of scent in social gatherings.
Memory tip
Think of 香 (xiāng) as a ‘scented’ scene where you can almost ‘see’ the sweet smell wafting through the air. Imagine a blooming flower that not only looks beautiful but also has a rich, inviting fragrance that makes you want to lean in closer.
Meanings of 香
xiāng(xiang1)
1fragrant
2sweet smelling
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
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About 香
香Simplified
9Strokes
香Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2455Frequency Rank
根Measure Word
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2
Podcast: 香
Podcast: 香
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AI study notes for 香
Quick Contrast
香 (fragrant) vs 甜 (sweet) — use 香 for pleasant aromas, while 甜 specifically refers to sweetness in taste.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 香 with similar adjectives like 美 (měi, beautiful) or 好 (hǎo, good), leading to mistakes in context. Remember that 香 specifically relates to smell and taste. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, often collocating with food and scents.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 香 is essential for describing sensations, especially in culinary contexts. Students should focus on its application in phrases related to food and fragrance, and connect it with other sensory words at this level.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 香 when describing something that is not related to smell or taste, such as saying '这本书香' (zhè běn shū xiāng) which incorrectly translates to 'This book is fragrant.' Instead, use it in contexts related to food or pleasant scents.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 香
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Learning Lab
Knowing 香 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.
The character 香 (xiāng) refers to something that emits a pleasant aroma or fragrance. It is commonly used to describe food, flowers, and perfumes, as well as to express enjoyment or relish in experiences associated with good smells or tastes.
When to use 香
Learners often confuse 香 with similar adjectives like 美 (měi, beautiful) or 好 (hǎo, good), leading to mistakes in context. Remember that 香 specifically relates to smell and taste. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, often collocating with food and scents.
香 or something close to it
香 (fragrant) vs 甜 (sweet) — use 香 for pleasant aromas, while 甜 specifically refers to sweetness in taste.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misuse 香 when describing something that is not related to smell or taste, such as saying '这本书香' (zhè běn shū xiāng) which incorrectly translates to 'This book is fragrant.' Instead, use it in contexts related to food or pleasant scents.
Write 香
香
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Practice writing 香 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 香
香 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 9 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.
香菇xiānggūshiitake (Lentinus edodes), an edible mushroom
郁金香yùjīnxiāngtulip鬱金香
香格里拉xiānggélǐlāShangri-La (mythical location)
香皂xiāngzàoperfumed soap
花香huāxiāngfragrance of flowers
香槟酒xiāngbīnjiǔchampagne (loanword)香檳酒
清香qīngxiāngsweet scent
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 香
What does 馨 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 香
Some synonyms for 香 include 芳 (fāng), which also means fragrant, and 美味 (měiwèi), which means delicious. Depending on the context, 香 can describe different types of pleasant smells or tastes.
No, 香 is not limited to food. While it is commonly used to describe appetizing dishes, it can also refer to pleasant aromas in flowers, perfumes, or any delightful scent. It's a versatile word in Chinese.
香 (xiāng) means fragrant, sweet smelling, or aromatic. It is often used to describe pleasant scents, especially in food. Additionally, it can refer to something that is savory or appetizing.
香 can be used to describe food, scents, or even experiences. For example, you can say '这道菜真香' (zhè dào cài zhēn xiāng), meaning 'This dish is really fragrant.' It's commonly used in contexts related to cooking and enjoyment.
You can say '这道菜香极了' (zhè dào cài xiāng jí le) which means 'This dish is extremely fragrant.'
No, 香 can also describe flowers, perfumes, and even pleasant experiences, not just food.
香 means fragrant or pleasant-smelling, while 臭 means foul or unpleasant-smelling.
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