Mandarin TempleCome for Knowledge. Stay for Wisdom.
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
臭 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
臭chòustenchHSK 5, a, 10 strokes, radical 自, rank #1169, Hard
臭chòusense of smellHSK 5, a, 10 strokes, radical 自, rank #1169, Hard
臭chòustinkHSK 5, a, 10 strokes, radical 自, rank #1169, Hard
臭chòusmell badHSK 5, a, 10 strokes, radical 自, rank #1169, Hard
臭chòusmellyHSK 5, a, 10 strokes, radical 自, rank #1169, Hard
臭chòuto smell (bad)HSK 5, a, 10 strokes, radical 自, rank #1169, Hard
臭chòuto reek, to smell, to stinkHSK 5, a, 10 strokes, radical 自, rank #1169, Hard
臭chòurepulsiveHSK 5, unknown, 10 strokes, radical 自, rank #1169, Hard
臭chòuloathsomeHSK 5, unknown, 10 strokes, radical 自, rank #1169, Hard
臭chòuterribleHSK 5, unknown, 10 strokes, radical 自, rank #1169, Hard
臭chòubadHSK 5, unknown, 10 strokes, radical 自, rank #1169, Hard
臭chòuseverelyHSK 5, unknown, 10 strokes, radical 自, rank #1169, Hard
臭chòuruthlesslyHSK 5, unknown, 10 strokes, radical 自, rank #1169, Hard
臭chòudud (ammunition)HSK 5, unknown, 10 strokes, radical 自, rank #1169, Hard
臭xiùstenchHSK 5, a, 10 strokes, radical 自, rank #1169, Hard
臭xiùsense of smellHSK 5, a, 10 strokes, radical 自, rank #1169, Hard
臭xiùstinkHSK 5, a, 10 strokes, radical 自, rank #1169, Hard
臭xiùsmell badHSK 5, a, 10 strokes, radical 自, rank #1169, Hard
臭xiùsmellyHSK 5, a, 10 strokes, radical 自, rank #1169, Hard
臭xiùto smell (bad)HSK 5, a, 10 strokes, radical 自, rank #1169, Hard
臭xiùto reek, to smell, to stinkHSK 5, a, 10 strokes, radical 自, rank #1169, Hard
臭xiùrepulsiveHSK 5, unknown, 10 strokes, radical 自, rank #1169, Hard
臭xiùloathsomeHSK 5, unknown, 10 strokes, radical 自, rank #1169, Hard
臭xiùterribleHSK 5, unknown, 10 strokes, radical 自, rank #1169, Hard
臭xiùbadHSK 5, unknown, 10 strokes, radical 自, rank #1169, Hard
臭xiùseverelyHSK 5, unknown, 10 strokes, radical 自, rank #1169, Hard
臭xiùruthlesslyHSK 5, unknown, 10 strokes, radical 自, rank #1169, Hard
臭xiùdud (ammunition)HSK 5, unknown, 10 strokes, radical 自, rank #1169, Hard
chòu(chou4)chou
primary
 T4
  1. 1stench
  2. 2sense of smell
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

臭chòu(chou4)

The character 臭 (chòu) primarily denotes an unpleasant smell or stench. It can be used to describe bad odors in various contexts, from food to unpleasant environments. Additionally, it can convey strong negative feelings or judgments about something or someone.

Strokes10Radical自Frequency#1169DifficultyHard
Cultural note

In Chinese cuisine, certain foods are intentionally fermented or aged to develop strong odors, which can be appreciated culturally, contrasting with a more universally negative view of bad smells in many Western cultures.

Memory tip

Imagine a skunk (known for its stink) with a big 'chou' sign on its back, reminding you that 'chòu' means bad smell. The character 臭 has a 'nose' radical (匕) at the bottom, hinting at its connection to smell.

Meanings of 臭

chòu(chou4)
primary
1stench
2sense of smell
Exercise 1 of 3

By ear

Play it, then pick what 臭 means.

About 臭

臭Simplified
10Strokes
自Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#1169Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRB2

Podcast: 臭

JasonAmy

Podcast: 臭

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI study notes for 臭

Quick Contrast

臭 (chòu) vs 难闻 (nánwén) — use 臭 for a stronger, more negative connotation compared to 难闻, which is more neutral.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 臭 with the more neutral word for 'smell' (味, wèi). Use 臭 in informal contexts to describe something truly unpleasant, while maintaining awareness of its strong negative connotation. Be cautious with the tone; a mispronunciation could change the meaning entirely.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 5 word, 臭 connects well with other vocabulary relating to the senses (like 感觉, gǎnjué for 'feeling'). Students should focus on recognizing its usage in idiomatic expressions and its antonyms, which often appear in advanced texts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 臭 (chòu) with 香 (xiāng), which means fragrant or good-smelling. A common error is saying '这东西很臭' (zhè dōngxī hěn chòu) without realizing the strong negative implication it carries, which should only be used for genuinely bad smells.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 臭

Premium — Locked

Tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 臭, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsPitch drawing+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 臭 to you

Let me explain 臭 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 臭 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

How well do you know 臭?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 臭 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
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 臭

Formation typeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory hint

The smell 自 of a dirty dog 犬

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 臭?

Decomposition of 臭

IDS Structure⿱自犬
臭Full character
=
自zi4
top
犬quan3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 臭?

How to say stench in Chinese

“stench” in Chinese is臭chòu

The character 臭 (chòu) primarily denotes an unpleasant smell or stench. It can be used to describe bad odors in various contexts, from food to unpleasant environments. Additionally, it can convey strong negative feelings or judgments about something or someone.

When to use 臭

Learners often confuse 臭 with the more neutral word for 'smell' (味, wèi). Use 臭 in informal contexts to describe something truly unpleasant, while maintaining awareness of its strong negative connotation. Be cautious with the tone; a mispronunciation could change the meaning entirely.

臭 or something close to it

臭 (chòu) vs 难闻 (nánwén) — use 臭 for a stronger, more negative connotation compared to 难闻, which is more neutral.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 臭 (chòu) with 香 (xiāng), which means fragrant or good-smelling. A common error is saying '这东西很臭' (zhè dōngxī hěn chòu) without realizing the strong negative implication it carries, which should only be used for genuinely bad smells.

Write 臭

臭

Practice writing 臭 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar patterns of 臭

臭 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 14 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.

是…的 emphasis是 + [V] + 的
HSK 3

...

这个地方是臭的。

zhège dìfāng shì chòu de.

This place is smelly.

Exercise 1 of 1

Build it

Put the words in order to say “This place is smelly.”.

Tap tokens to build the sentence

Common confusions with 臭

臭vs丑
chǒu

Similar pronunciation with a different meaning.

臭vs愁
chóu

Same pronunciation but different meanings.

臭 means smelly or bad odor, while 香 means fragrant or good smell.

1

这个味道很臭。 vs. 这个味道很香。

臭 means smelly or bad odor, while 香 means fragrant or good smell.

💡臭 sounds negative and unpleasant, 香 sounds positive and pleasant.
Exercise 1 of 1

Which one

Which one means “stench”?

or

Usage Notes for 臭

Misusing 臭 and 香Common Error

Learners often confuse 臭 with 香. Remember that 臭 is used for bad smells, while 香 is for pleasant ones.

1

这个食物很臭。

This food smells bad.

2

这个花香。

This flower is fragrant.

Exercise 1 of 1

Get it right

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

这个食物很____。

This food smells bad.

Example sentences for 臭 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
臭氧是一种非常活跃的氧气形态。

chòu yǎng shì yī zhǒng fēicháng huóyuè de yǎngqì xíngtài。

Ozone is a highly reactive form of oxygen gas.
2
这栋大楼外面的气味让人无法忍受——就像臭鸡蛋的味道。

zhè dòng dàlóu wàimiàn de qìwèi ràng rén wúfǎ rěnshòu—— jiù xiàng chòu jīdàn de wèidào。

The smell outside this building is overwhelming — like rotten eggs.
3
角落里那只未盖盖子的桶散发着臭味。

jiǎoluò lǐ nà zhī wèi gài gàizi de tǒng sànfā zhe chòu wèi。

The uncovered bucket in the corner stank.
4
我们都知道油脂变质后会发臭。

wǒmen dōu zhīdào yóu zhī biànzhì hòu huì fā chòu。

We all know that fats spoil by becoming rancid.
5
高浓度的臭氧会对眼睛、鼻子和咽喉有刺激作用。

gāo nóng dù de chòu yǎng huì duì yǎnjing、 bízi hé yānhóu yǒu cìjī zuòyòng。

In heavy concentrations, ozone is irritating to the eyes, nose and throat.
6
臭婆娘，你知不知道这会恶名远扬？

chòu pó niáng， nǐ zhī bùzhī dào zhè huì è míng yuǎn yáng？

Do you realize, woman, the scandal and publicity that will be involved?
7
滚滚浓烟盘旋翻腾，恶臭味呛得她喘不过气来。

gǔn gǔn nóng yān pánxuán fān téng， è chòu wèi qiāng de tā chuǎn búguò qì lái。

Dense smoke swirled and billowed, its rank fumes choking her.
8
火车站上有冲鼻的猫味和臭水沟味。

huǒchēzhàn shàng yǒu chōng bí de māo wèi hé chòu shuǐ gōu wèi。

The railway station smelt powerfully of cats and drains.
9
离我远点——你有口臭。

lí wǒ yuǎn diǎn—— nǐ yǒu kǒu chòu。

Get away from me —your breath stinks.
10
他们本是好友,近来忽然臭了.

tāmen běn shì hǎoyǒu, jìnlái hūrán chòu le.

The two good friends have recently cooled off.

Ask Jason

Have a question about 臭?

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 200 AI credits.

Word Family of 臭

Compounds7
嗅xiùto smell
糗qiǔdry rations; mushy, overcooked; embarrassing
溴xiùbromine
搝qiǔ
殠chòu
螑xiù
齅xiù
Words containing this character20
臭chòustench
臭味chòuwèistink
恶臭èchòustink惡臭
臭名昭著chòumíngzhāozhùnotorious
臭气chòuqìstench臭氣
臭美chòuměito show off one's good looks shamelessly
口臭kǒuchòubad breath
臭豆腐chòudòufustinky tofu
臭虫chòuchóngtick臭蟲
臭氧chòuyǎngozone (O₃)
臭氧层chòuyǎngcéngozone layer臭氧層
臭骂chòumàtongue-lashing臭罵
乳臭未干rǔxiùwèigānstill wet behind the ears乳臭未乾
除臭剂chúchòujìdeodorant除臭劑
臭烘烘chòuhōnghōngstinking
腐臭fǔchòustinking
臭味相投chòuwèixiāngtóuto share vile habits
狐臭húchòubody odor
遗臭万年yíchòuwànniánto have one's name go down in history as a byword for infamy (idiom)遺臭萬年
臭气熏天chòuqìxūntiānoverwhelming stench (idiom)臭氣熏天
Exercise 1 of 4

Characters with 臭

What does 嗅 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 臭

Some synonyms for 臭 (chòu) include 难闻 (nán wén), which also means 'bad-smelling', and 恶臭 (è chòu), meaning 'foul smell'. These terms can be used interchangeably in many contexts.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 臭?

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.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab