cau3 gok3嗅覺嗅觉
Jyutpingcau3 gok3
Yalechau gok
Definition
The sense of smell.
neutralbodyhealth
How it's used
Refers specifically to the biological ability to perceive odors, functioning as a formal noun in daily speech. While people often use the verb 聞 to describe the act of smelling, 嗅覺 is the technical term for the faculty itself. It is frequently paired with adjectives describing sensitivity, such as 靈敏 or 遲鈍.
Examples
Their sense of smell is very keen; they can smell even the slightest scent.
Do you have a cold? Why does it seem like you have lost your sense of smell?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse this with the act of smelling, which is 聞. Using 嗅覺 to mean the action of sniffing or smelling something is grammatically incorrect.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
