Meaning
嗅 means to smell or sniff something, typically referring to the action of using one's nose to detect or investigate an odor. It describes the active process of smelling rather than passively noticing a scent. The character combines the mouth radical (口) with 自 (self/nose), reflecting the physical act of sniffing.
Usage
嗅 is more formal and literary than the everyday word 闻 (wén). It often appears in written contexts or when describing animals sniffing. Native speakers commonly use it in phrases like 嗅觉 (sense of smell) or when describing deliberate sniffing actions. In casual conversation, 闻 is preferred for general smelling.
Examples
- 01狗嗅了嗅地上的脚印。.The dog sniffed at the footprints on the ground.
- 02他的嗅觉非常灵敏，能嗅出各种香料。, .His sense of smell is very keen; he can detect various spices.
Common collocations
- 嗅觉sense of smell
- 嗅到to smell (and detect)
- 嗅出to sniff out, to detect by smell
Origin
The character 嗅 combines 口 (mouth) and 臭 (odor/smell), originally indicating the action of using one's nose and breath to detect smells.