Meaning
鲜 primarily means 'fresh' when referring to food, especially produce, meat, or seafood. It can also describe something bright, vivid, or eye-catching in color. As a taste descriptor, it refers to the umami or delicious quality of food, particularly the natural flavor of fresh ingredients.
Usage
Most commonly used to describe fresh food items, especially at markets or in cooking contexts. The character appears in many food-related compounds. When describing colors, it emphasizes brightness and vividness. In modern usage, 新鲜 (xīnxiān) is more common than 鲜 alone for 'fresh'.
Examples
- 01这些蔬菜很鲜，是今天早上刚摘的。, .These vegetables are very fresh; they were just picked this morning.
- 02她穿了一件鲜红色的裙子。.She wore a bright red dress.
Common collocations
- 鲜花fresh flowers
- 鲜血fresh blood
- 鲜红bright red
- 保鲜to keep fresh, preserve freshness
Antonyms
Origin
The traditional form 鮮 combines 魚 (fish) and 羊 (sheep/goat), representing two foods prized for their fresh, delicious taste in ancient China. This reflects the character's dual meaning of both freshness and deliciousness.