HSK 7, a, 13 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #17479, Hard
腥
xīng
fishy, rank; raw meat
HSK 7, a, 13 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #17479, Hard
xīng(xing1) T1
1fishy (smell)
2fishy, rank; raw meat
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March 24, 2026
腥xīng(xing1)
The character 腥 (xīng) refers to a strong, unpleasant smell commonly associated with raw fish, meat, or seafood. It is often used to describe the odor that can be off-putting in cooking or food preparation contexts, and can also imply something that is not fresh or has gone bad.
Strokes13Radical⺼Frequency#17479DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese cuisine, fresh ingredients are highly valued, and the concept of 腥 is significant; dishes are often prepared to minimize or eliminate any fishy smell, especially in seafood preparation. This reflects a cultural emphasis on freshness and quality in food.
Memory Tip
Imagine a fish (representing the meaning) swimming in a sea of strong odors. The character 腥 has the radical for flesh (肉) on the left, hinting at its connection to meat, while the phonetic component (猩) sounds like 'sing', which you might do when you smell something bad and want to express your disgust.
Meanings of 腥
xīng(xing1)
1fishy (smell)
2fishy, rank; raw meat
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 腥
腥Simplified
13Strokes
⺼Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#17479Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 腥
Podcast: 腥
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AI Study Notes for 腥
Quick Contrast
腥 (xīng) vs 臭 (chòu) — use 腥 when describing the specific smell of raw fish or meat, while 臭 refers to a more general bad odor.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a fish (representing the meaning) swimming in a sea of strong odors. The character 腥 has the radical for flesh (肉) on the left, hinting at its connection to meat, while the phonetic component (猩) sounds like 'sing', which you might do when you smell something bad and want to express your disgust.
Usage Notes
When using 腥, be mindful of the context; it's often used in negative connotations when describing food. Common collocations include 腥味 (xīngwèi - fishy smell) and 腥气 (xīngqì - fishy odor). Avoid using it in formal contexts as it may come off as too blunt or unrefined.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 腥 connects well with other food-related vocabulary and adjectives describing taste and smell. Students should focus on its application in culinary discussions and be aware of its nuanced meanings in various contexts.
Cultural Note
In Chinese cuisine, fresh ingredients are highly valued, and the concept of 腥 is significant; dishes are often prepared to minimize or eliminate any fishy smell, especially in seafood preparation. This reflects a cultural emphasis on freshness and quality in food.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 腥 with 新鲜 (xīnxiān) and may incorrectly use 腥 to describe fresh food. A correct usage would be '这条鱼有腥味' (This fish has a fishy smell), not '这条鱼很腥鲜' (This fish is very fishy fresh).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 腥
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Grammar Patterns of 腥
腥 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 2 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 5
Complete the Sentence
她嗓子里的血____味让她直恶心。
The taste of blood in her throat made her want to vomit.
Example Sentences for 腥 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
她嗓子里的血腥味让她直恶心。
tā sǎng zǐ lǐ de xiě xīng wèi ràng tā zhí è xīn。
The taste of blood in her throat made her want to vomit.
2
快到年底时他得了腥红热.
kuài dào nián dǐ shí tā dé le xīng hóng rè.
Towards the end of the year he caught scarlet fever.
3
浓烈的鱼腥味儿
nóng liè de yú xīng wèi ér
an overpowering smell of fish
4
病理学家带有血腥味的工作
bìng lǐ xué jiā dài yǒu xiě xīng wèi de gōng zuò
the gory task of the pathologist
5
那天在CLUB和我麻吉想要偷腥找点刺激.
nà tiān zàiCLUB CLUB hé wǒ má jí xiǎng yào tōu xīng zhǎo diǎn cì.
But keep it down on the low key , cause you know how it is.
6
那么这个腥牙血爪的资本主义国度对此有何反应 呢 ?
nà mó zhè gè xīng yá xiě zhǎo de zī běn zhǔ yì guó dù duì cǐ yǒu hé fǎn yīng?
And the reaction in the land of capitalism red in tooth and claw?
These flavors help eliminate that fishy aftertaste and the potential for bad breath from fish oils.
Cultural Notes for 腥
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese cuisine, fresh ingredients are highly valued, and the concept of 腥 is significant; dishes are often prepared to minimize or eliminate any fishy smell, especially in seafood preparation. This reflects a cultural emphasis on freshness and quality in food.
Word Family of 腥
Words Containing This Character5
血腥reeking of blood
腥xīngfishy (smell)
鱼腥草Houttuynia cordata魚腥草
腥风血雨carnage腥風血雨
荤腥meat and fish葷腥
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 血腥 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 腥
It is pronounced as 'xīng' with a high-level tone.
Yes, 腥 can also describe the smell of raw meat or any unpleasant odors associated with freshness.
The opposite would be 新鲜 (xīnxiān), meaning fresh, which is used to describe food that has a pleasant smell.
