man4聞闻
Jyutpingman4
Yalemàhn
Definition
To smell, sniff, or detect an odor with the nose.
colloquialbodydaily actions
How it's used
While 聞 is the standard verb for smelling, in daily speech, people often prefer the more colloquial 索 when describing the action of sniffing something intentionally. Using 聞 often implies a more passive or neutral act of detecting an odor, whereas 索 carries a more active, deliberate sense of inhaling to identify a scent. You will frequently hear 聞到 used to describe the result of smelling something, regardless of whether the act was intentional.
Related words
Common phrases
to smell (something)
Common mistake
Do not confuse 聞 with 聽, which means to listen or to hear. Learners sometimes mix them up because both involve sensory perception, but 聞 is strictly for the nose, while 聽 is for the ears.
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.
