Definition
味 (wèi) is a general noun for 'taste' or 'smell' — it covers both the flavor of food and an odor in the air. 味道 (wèi dào) is more common in everyday speech for a specific taste or smell, while 味 is shorter and often appears in compounds (e.g., 口味, 气味). 气味 (qì wèi) specifically means 'smell, odor' and is not used for taste.
noun
tasteflavorsmellodor
Easily confused
- 为wéisound-alike(preposition) as; in the capacity of
- 为wéisound-aliketo act as, to serve as (in patterns like 以...为..., 称为, 选为)
- 为wéisound-alike(preposition) as, in the capacity of
- 位wèisound-alike(classifier, polite) for people
- 喂wèisound-alike(interjection) hey! hello? (used to attract attention or answer a phone call)
- 喂wèisound-alike(interjection) hello? (used to answer the phone)
- 未wèisound-alikenot yet; have not; did not (formal/literary negation placed before a verb)
- 唯wéisound-alikeonly, alone
- 围wéisound-aliketo surround, to encircle
- 胃wèisound-alikestomach
Examples
- 。Zhè pán cài wèidào bú cuò.This dish tastes pretty good.
- 。Fángjiān lǐ yǒu yì gǔ qíguài de wèidào.There is a strange smell in the room.
- ，。Wǒ cháng le cháng, wèidào hěn tián.I tasted it; the flavor is very sweet.
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