Meanings of 荤
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About 荤
Podcast: 荤
Podcast: 荤
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AI Study Notes for 荤
荤 (hūn) vs素 (sù) — choose 荤 when discussing non-vegetarian food, while 素 refers specifically to vegetarian options.
Learners often confuse 荤 with 素 (sù), which means vegetarian. Remember to use 荤 when discussing diets, particularly in restaurants or culinary contexts. Be cautious as the informal use can imply vulgarity; context is essential.
As an HSK 6 word, 荤 connects to food-related vocabulary and dietary discussions. Focus on its collocations with words like 饭 (fàn, rice) and 菜 (cài, dish) to enhance your understanding of menus and dining conversations.
Learners often mistakenly use 荤 when referring to vegetarian dishes, saying '这道菜是荤的' (zhè dào cài shì hūn de) instead of '这道菜是素的' (zhè dào cài shì sù de). Always double-check the context to use the appropriate term.
Pronunciation of 荤
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Etymology of 荤
Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 军 represents the sound. Simplified form of 葷.
plant
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 荤
Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 军 represents the sound. Simplified form of 葷.
- 1The meaning half艹 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half军 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayplant
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 荤? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 荤?
Decomposition of 荤
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 荤?
How to say strong-smelling vegetable (garlic etc) in Chinese
“strong-smelling vegetable (garlic etc)” in Chinese is荤
The character 荤 (hūn) primarily refers to non-vegetarian food, such as meat and fish. It can also describe strong-smelling vegetables like garlic, and in some contexts, it can carry vulgar or obscene connotations. This word is often used in culinary discussions or when differentiating between vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.
When to use 荤
Learners often confuse 荤 with 素 (sù), which means vegetarian. Remember to use 荤 when discussing diets, particularly in restaurants or culinary contexts. Be cautious as the informal use can imply vulgarity; context is essential.
荤 or something close to it
荤 (hūn) vs素 (sù) — choose 荤 when discussing non-vegetarian food, while 素 refers specifically to vegetarian options.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 荤 when referring to vegetarian dishes, saying '这道菜是荤的' (zhè dào cài shì hūn de) instead of '这道菜是素的' (zhè dào cài shì sù de). Always double-check the context to use the appropriate term.
Write 荤
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Practice writing 荤 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 荤
荤 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 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.
Complete the Sentence
他们说着____段子，哼着不着调的小曲儿。
They told dirty jokes and sang raucous ballads.
Example Sentences for 荤 (1)
Word Family of 荤
Compound Meaning
What does 荤 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 荤
In restaurants, 荤 indicates dishes that contain meat or fish, distinguishing them from vegetarian options.
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