Chinese Word
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noun HSK 4
kǒu wèi
taste · flavor · preference (in food)

Meaning

口味 refers to taste or flavor in food, and also to someone's personal preferences regarding food. It can describe both the actual taste of a dish and a person's individual tastes or dietary preferences. The word combines 口 (mouth) and 味 (taste/flavor) to create this meaning.

Usage

Commonly used in restaurants when discussing food preferences or when describing different regional cuisines. Often appears in phrases like '口味重' (strong/heavy flavor) or '口味淡' (mild flavor). Can also refer more broadly to personal preferences beyond just food.

Examples

  1. 01
    这家餐厅有各种口味的菜，你想吃什么都有。
    Zhè jiā cāntīng yǒu gè zhǒng kǒu wèi de cài, nǐ xiǎng chī shén me dōu yǒu.
    This restaurant has dishes of all flavors; whatever you want to eat, they have it.
  2. 02
    我觉得这道菜太甜了，不太适合我的口味。
    Wǒ jué de zhè dào cài tài tián le, bù tài shì hé wǒ de kǒu wèi.
    I think this dish is too sweet; it doesn't really suit my taste.

Characters

Measure words

  • 种zhǒng三种口味

Common collocations

  • 口味重
    kǒu wèi zhòng
    strong/heavy flavor preference
  • 口味淡
    kǒu wèi dàn
    mild/light flavor preference
  • 改变口味
    gǎi biàn kǒu wèi
    to change one's taste
  • 适合口味
    shì hé kǒu wèi
    to suit one's taste

Origin

The compound combines 口 (mouth) and 味 (taste) in a straightforward way, literally meaning 'mouth-taste' or 'taste in the mouth,' which naturally extends to personal taste preferences.

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