sou1臊
Jyutpingsou1
Yalesōu
Definition
Having an unpleasant, rank, or gamey smell or taste of meat, especially mutton.
colloquialfooddescriptions
How it's used
Primarily used to describe the distinct, gamey odor associated with mutton or lamb. It carries a negative connotation, implying that the smell is overwhelming or unpleasant to the diner. While it specifically targets meat, it can occasionally be used figuratively to describe other pungent, animalistic smells.
Examples
This plate of mutton is very rank, I'm not really used to eating it.
Did you add ginger to remove the rank smell when you cooked the mutton?
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 臭, which is a general term for any bad smell. 臊 is highly specific to the gamey, bloody, or milky scent of raw meat, particularly mutton.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
