adjective HSK 4
fragrant and spicy · aromatic and hot
Meaning
香辣 describes food that is both aromatic (香) and spicy-hot (辣). It emphasizes the pleasant, savory spiciness found in Sichuan and Hunan cuisines, where the heat is balanced by rich, fragrant flavors from spices, aromatics, and chili oil.
Usage
Commonly used in restaurant menus and food descriptions to indicate dishes with appealing spicy flavor. It suggests a more complex, enjoyable spiciness rather than just painful heat. Frequently appears in dishes like 香辣虾 (spicy shrimp) or 香辣鸡翅 (spicy chicken wings).
Examples
- 01这家餐厅的香辣小龙虾特别好吃。.This restaurant's fragrant spicy crayfish is especially delicious.
- 02我喜欢吃香辣口味的菜。.I like to eat dishes with a fragrant spicy flavor.
Characters
Common collocations
- 香辣虾spicy shrimp
- 香辣鸡翅spicy chicken wings
- 香辣蟹spicy crab
- 香辣味fragrant spicy flavor
Antonyms
Origin
Compound of two sensory descriptors: 香 (fragrant) from 禾 (grain) + 甘 (sweet), and 辣 (spicy) from 辛 (bitter/pungent). The combination emerged to describe the characteristic flavor profile of southwestern Chinese cooking.