hing1馨
Jyutpinghing1
Yalehīng
Definition
A strong, pervasive fragrance that spreads far.
writtendescriptions
How it's used
This character is almost exclusively found in literary contexts or formal names rather than daily spoken Cantonese. It describes a fragrance that is not just pleasant, but one that travels far and lingers in the air. You will rarely hear it used in casual conversation, as people would typically use 香 or 香味 instead.
Examples
This kind of flower has a pervasive fragrance, it smells very comfortable.
Can you smell that pervasive fragrance?
Related words
Common phrases
pervasive fragrance
Common mistake
Learners often mistake it for a common adjective for any nice smell, but using it in casual speech will sound overly poetic or archaic. It is better to stick to standard descriptive terms unless you are writing formal prose or poetry.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
