Chinese word

熏

Pronunciation

Pinyinxūn

Meaning

  • verbsmoke

Example

妈妈用烟熏肉来保存。mā mā yòng yān xūn ròu lái bǎo cún

Mom smokes meat to preserve it.

Illustration for 熏 (smoke)

More examples

街边小店常把鱼熏成零食。jiē biān xiǎo diàn cháng bǎ yú xūn chéng líng shí

Small street-side shops often smoke fish to make snacks.

Core concept

A target is enveloped in smoke until its condition changes, either through treatment or an unwanted effect.

Common phrases

  • 熏鱼xūn yú

    smoke fish

  • 熏肉xūn ròu

    smoke meat

  • 用烟熏肉yòng yān xūn ròu

    smoke meat with smoke

Similar words

熏制xūn zhì: Making preserved food by processing it with smoke.
熏蒸xūn zhēng: Using smoke or steam to rid a place or object of pests or microbes.
熏染xūn rǎn: Making something take on a smell or color from smoke or another substance.

Definition in Chinese

使人或物受烟雾影响而带有烟味或感到不适的行为或状态。shǐ rén huò wù shòu yān wù yíng xiǎng ér dài yǒu yān wèi huò gǎn dào bú shì de xíng wéi huò zhuàng tài

Word origin

The older meaning of 熏 (xūn, "smoke") centers on letting smoke pass over an object, a process that extends naturally to treating food or a space and to affecting a person.

Usage tips

  • The object receiving the smoke determines the reading, so context separates an intentional process involving food or a place from an unwanted effect on a person.

Other meanings

  • fumigateverb

Related words

  • 熏制xūn zhìsmoke-cureverb
  • 熏蒸xūn zhēngfumigateverb
  • 熏陶xūn táomoldverb

Word lists with this word