鹹 (xián) - Salty — describes a taste sensation & also used metaphorically for something dull or boring.

鹹Tone 2

xián ｜ 20 strokes ｜ radical:

万响

鹹 · xián

Salty — describes a taste sensation;

also used metaphorically for something dull or boring.

Salty — describes a taste sensationalso used metaphorically for something dull or boring.

Usage highlights

Salty tasteSalted fishSalted eggSalted vegetableSalty and freshSalty and spicy

Synonyms

  • 鹽— salt (the substance)

Antonyms

  • 淡— bland; tasteless
  • 甜— sweet

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • This soup is too salty (汤太鹹).
  • I prefer sweet over salty food (甜食和鹹食).
  • He told a very dull joke (很鹹的笑話).
  • Salted fish is a common ingredient (鹹魚).

Collocations

  • Salty taste(鹹味)
  • Salted fish(鹹魚)
  • Salted egg(鹹蛋)
  • Salted vegetable(鹹菜)
  • Salty and fresh(鹹鮮)
  • Salty and spicy(鹹辣)

Idioms

  • A drop in the ocean(杯水車薪)
  • Salted fish turning over(鹹魚翻生)
  • Young ginger is hotter than old(薑是老的辣)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • One of the five fundamental tastes in Chinese cuisine (sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, salty).
  • Salted foods like salted fish and preserved vegetables have historical importance in food preservation.
  • Metaphorically used to describe something boring or dull in colloquial speech.

FAQ