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A2 adjective 8 min read

好闻

haowen

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 好闻 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 好闻 in your Level:

At the A1 level, '好闻' (hǎowén) is one of the essential sensory adjectives you learn, similar to '好吃' (delicious) and '好看' (pretty). It is a compound of '好' (good) and '闻' (to smell). You use it simply to say that something smells nice. At this stage, you should focus on using it with simple nouns like '花' (flower), '香水' (perfume), and '咖啡' (coffee). The grammar is simple: [Noun] + 很 + 好闻. Remember that in Chinese, you don't need the word 'is' (是) when using '很'. For example, '这朵花很好闻' means 'This flower smells good.' It is a very useful word for expressing your immediate feelings about your environment.

At the A2 level, you can start using '好闻' in more complex sentence structures, such as comparisons and questions. You will often see it paired with '味道' (wèidào - smell/flavor). Instead of just saying 'The flower is good-smelling,' you might say 'The smell of this flower is very good' (这朵花的味道很好闻). You can also use the 'A-not-A' question format: '好不好闻?' (Does it smell good or not?). This level also introduces the negative form '不好闻' (not good-smelling/smells bad). You should be able to use it to describe common daily items like soap, laundry, or a friend's new perfume, and use adverbs like '非常' (fēicháng - very) or '真' (zhēn - really) to vary your intensity.

At the B1 level, you should understand the nuance between '好闻' and '香' (xiāng). While both can mean 'fragrant,' '好闻' is more about your personal reaction to a scent, whereas '香' often describes the inherent quality of the object or the savory smell of food. You will also encounter '好闻' in the context of '的' phrases as an attribute, such as '好闻的气味' (a pleasant scent). You can use it to describe more abstract or subtle things, like the smell of the air after rain or the smell of an old book. You should also be comfortable using it in comparative sentences using '比' (bǐ), such as '玫瑰比百合更好闻' (Roses smell better than lilies).

At the B2 level, you can use '好闻' to describe more complex sensory experiences and in idiomatic contexts. You might use it in a '越来越' (yuè lái yuè) structure to describe a changing environment: '春天来了，空气变得越来越好闻了' (Spring is here, and the air is becoming more and more pleasant-smelling). You should also be aware of its opposite, '难闻' (nánwén), and use them together to describe contrasting smells. At this level, you can use '好闻' to provide more detailed descriptions in storytelling or when discussing preferences in personal care products, explaining *why* something is '好闻' by using related vocabulary like '清淡' (light) or '浓郁' (strong).

At the C1 level, '好闻' is used fluently in various registers. You might discuss the olfactory marketing of brands (how shops use '好闻' scents to attract customers) or describe nostalgic memories triggered by specific smells. You should understand how '好闻' fits into the broader category of sensory verbs (好香, 好看, 好听, 好吃, 好玩). In writing, you might use it to contrast with more formal terms like '芬芳' (fēnfāng) or '馥郁' (fùyù). You can also use it in hypothetical or conditional sentences, such as '只要味道好闻，我就会买' (As long as the scent is pleasant, I will buy it). Your usage should reflect a deep understanding of the subjective nature of the word.

At the C2 level, '好闻' is a tool for precise expression within a vast vocabulary of descriptors. You can analyze the etymology of the character '闻' (originally meaning 'to hear' in Classical Chinese) and how its transition to 'smell' reflects linguistic evolution. You might use '好闻' in literary critiques to describe a writer's sensory imagery or in philosophical discussions about the subjectivity of beauty and scent. You can use it with high-level grammatical structures and nuances, such as '与其说它好闻，不如说它让人感到安心' (Rather than saying it smells good, it's better to say it makes one feel at peace). Your mastery allows you to use this simple word to convey complex, multi-layered sensory experiences.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

好闻 in 30 Seconds

Used to describe any pleasant smell.
Formed by 'Good' (好) + 'Smell' (闻).
Applicable to food, nature, and people.
The opposite of '难闻' (bad-smelling).

The Chinese adjective 好闻 (hǎowén) is a quintessential sensory descriptor used to express that something has a pleasant, agreeable, or fragrant scent. Structurally, it follows a common pattern in Mandarin where the character 好 (hǎo), meaning 'good,' is prefixed to a sensory verb—in this case, 闻 (wén), which means 'to smell.' Just as 好看 (hǎokàn) means 'good to look at' (beautiful) and 好吃 (hǎochī) means 'good to eat' (delicious), 好闻 literally translates to 'good to smell.'

Literal Meaning: Good (好) + Smell (闻) = Pleasant-smelling.
Common Usage: Used for flowers, perfume, freshly baked bread, clean laundry, or the air after rain.

This word is extremely versatile and is used in both casual and formal settings. While English speakers might use specific words like 'fragrant,' 'aromatic,' or 'sweet-scented' depending on the object, Chinese speakers frequently use 好闻 as a catch-all for any positive olfactory experience. It is the most natural way to compliment a scent in daily life. For example, if you walk into a kitchen and smell a simmering soup, you would likely exclaim, "真好闻!" (Zhēn hǎowén! - It smells so good!).

这种香水的味道非常好闻。(Zhè zhǒng xiāngshuǐ de wèidào fēicháng hǎowén.) - The scent of this perfume is very pleasant.

Culturally, the sense of smell is deeply tied to memory and comfort in Chinese society. The smell of osmanthus flowers in autumn or the scent of sandalwood incense in a temple are often described as 好闻. It conveys a sense of immediate physical appreciation. Unlike the word 香 (xiāng), which specifically means 'fragrant' or 'savory,' 好闻 is more of a subjective reaction. You are stating that the smell is pleasing to you.

In terms of intensity, 好闻 can be modified by various degree adverbs. 挺好闻的 (tǐng hǎowén de) is a common way to say 'quite nice-smelling,' while 特别好闻 (tèbié hǎowén) adds emphasis. It is rarely used for food in a way that describes the taste, though it can describe the aroma of the food before you eat it. For the actual taste, you must switch to 好吃 or 香.

Using 好闻 (hǎowén) in a sentence is grammatically straightforward, as it functions like most Chinese adjectives (statival verbs). It typically follows the subject and is often preceded by an adverb of degree like 很 (hěn), 非常 (fēicháng), or 真 (zhēn).

Basic Structure: [Subject] + [Degree Adverb] + 好闻.

One common pattern involves the word 味道 (wèidào), which means 'smell' or 'flavor.' While you can say "The flower is good-smelling" (这朵花很好闻), it is often more precise to say "The smell of this flower is very good" (这朵花的味道很好闻). This clarifies that you are specifically praising the olfactory quality of the object.

洗过的衣服有一种好闻的清香。(Xǐguò de yīfú yǒu yīzhǒng hǎowén de qīngxiāng.) - Washed clothes have a pleasant, fresh fragrance.

Another important usage is in comparisons. You might compare two perfumes or two types of tea. For example, "这瓶比那瓶更好闻" (Zhè píng bǐ nà píng gèng hǎowén - This bottle smells better than that one). Notice how the comparative 更 (gèng) is placed directly before 好闻.

You can also use 好闻 as an attributive adjective to modify a noun, but it usually requires the structural particle 的 (de). For instance, "好闻的气味" (hǎowén de qìwèi) means 'a pleasant smell.' This is frequently seen in descriptive writing or when categorizing things. In a negative sense, you would say 不好闻 (bù hǎowén). For example, "这种药的味道不好闻" (Zhè zhǒng yào de wèidào bù hǎowén - The smell of this medicine is not pleasant).

Question Form: [Subject] + 好闻吗? (Does [Subject] smell good?) or [Subject] + 好不好闻? (Is [Subject] good-smelling or not?)

In daily Chinese life, 好闻 (hǎowén) is heard in a variety of sensory-rich environments. One of the most common places is the kitchen or a restaurant. When someone is frying garlic, ginger, and scallions—the 'holy trinity' of Chinese cooking—the aroma is immediately greeted with "好闻!" It serves as an appetizer for the nose before the food even hits the table.

妈妈在做饭，屋子里全是好闻的味道。(Māma zài zuòfàn, wūzi lǐ quán shì hǎowén de wèidào.) - Mom is cooking; the room is full of good smells.

Another frequent context is in personal grooming and shopping. At a cosmetics counter, customers will lean in to smell lotions, shampoos, or perfumes and use 好闻 to decide on a purchase. It is a decisive factor. You might hear a sales assistant ask, "你觉得这个味道好闻吗?" (Nǐ juédé zhège wèidào hǎowén ma? - Do you think this scent smells good?).

You will also hear it in nature and outdoor settings. During the spring, walking through a park filled with jasmine or plum blossoms, people will instinctively say, "花儿真好闻" (Huār zhēn hǎowén). Similarly, the scent of a pine forest or the smell of the sea can be described this way. It reflects the Chinese appreciation for the natural world's subtle fragrances.

Domestic Life: Describing the scent of sun-dried quilts (晒过的被子), which many Chinese people find nostalgic and 'good-smelling.'

Finally, it appears in media and literature. In romantic dramas (C-dramas), a character might comment on the scent of another character's hair or clothing, using 好闻 to suggest intimacy or attraction. It is a word that bridges the gap between simple physical sensation and emotional resonance.

The most frequent mistake for English speakers is confusing "闻" (wén) with its historical meaning. In Classical Chinese, 闻 primarily meant 'to hear' (as seen in the modern word 新闻 - news). However, in modern Mandarin, its primary meaning is 'to smell.' Beginners sometimes mistakenly use it when they want to say something 'sounds good,' but for that, you must use 好听 (hǎotīng).

❌ 这首歌很好闻。(This song smells good - Incorrect if you mean 'sounds good').
✅ 这首歌很好听。(This song sounds good).

Another common error is the overuse of "是" (shì). English speakers are conditioned to say "The flower IS good-smelling." In Chinese, you should not say "花是很好闻." The adverb 很 acts as the bridge. Simply say "花很好闻." Including 是 makes the sentence sound like you are correcting someone who said it smells bad, which is a very specific and rare emphasis.

A third mistake is negation placement. Some learners try to say "好不闻," which is incorrect. The negation 不 (bù) must come before the entire compound or before the verb part in a question. The standard negative form is 不好闻. If you want to ask a choice question, use 好不好闻?

Mistake in Context: Using 好闻 to describe a person's personality or a situation. Unlike 'smell' in English (e.g., "Something smells fishy"), 好闻 is almost exclusively literal and physical.

While 好闻 (hǎowén) is the most common way to say something smells good, Chinese offers several alternatives depending on the level of formality and the specific nature of the scent.

香 (xiāng): Meaning 'fragrant' or 'aromatic.' It is shorter and often used for food (savory) or incense. If a room smells like flowers, you can say "好香!"
芬芳 (fēnfāng): A more literary and poetic word for 'fragrant.' You would find this in lyrics or classical poetry rather than in a kitchen.
清香 (qīngxiāng): Refers to a light, delicate, and refreshing scent, such as green tea or morning air. It is a specific type of '好闻.'

Comparing 好闻 and 香: 香 is an inherent property of the object (the flower IS fragrant), while 好闻 is your reaction to it (the flower smells good to me). In many cases, they are interchangeable, but 好闻 feels slightly more conversational and personal.

这里的空气很清新，特别好闻。(Zhèlǐ de kōngqì hěn qīngxīn, tèbié hǎowén.) - The air here is fresh and smells particularly good.

If the smell is pleasant but very faint, you might use 幽香 (yōuxiāng). If it is a strong, pleasant aroma (like a bakery), 浓香 (nóngxiāng) might be used. For smells that are 'good' because they are clean, 清爽 (qīngshuǎng) is an alternative adjective that focuses on the 'fresh' feeling.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

In Classical Chinese, if you wanted to say something smelled good, you would just use '香'. The shift of '闻' from 'hearing' to 'smelling' occurred as the language became more bisyllabic and needed clearer distinctions between sensory actions.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /haʊ wɛn/

US /haʊ wɛn/

The emphasis is usually slightly more on the second syllable 'wén' in natural speech.

Rhymes With

门 (mén) 人 (rén) 盆 (pén) 晨 (chén) 春 (chūn) 分 (fēn) 文 (wén) 真 (zhēn)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'wén' as 'wèn' (4th tone), which sounds like 'ask'.
Pronouncing 'hǎo' as 'hāo' (1st tone), which sounds like 'to pull out'.
Mixing up 'wén' with 'wàng' (to forget).
Stressing both syllables equally, making it sound robotic.
Not dipping the tone enough on 'hǎo'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

The characters are relatively simple (A1-A2 level).

Writing 3/5

Writing '闻' requires attention to the radical '门' and the inner '耳'.

Speaking 2/5

The tones are straightforward, but the 3rd-2nd tone transition needs practice.

Listening 2/5

Easily recognizable in context due to the frequent use of '好'.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

好 (hǎo) - good 闻 (wén) - to smell 很 (hěn) - very 味道 (wèidào) - smell 花 (huā) - flower

Learn Next

香 (xiāng) - fragrant 难闻 (nánwén) - bad-smelling 臭 (chòu) - stinky 清新 (qīngxīn) - fresh 香水 (xiāngshuǐ) - perfume

Advanced

沁人心脾 (qìnrénxīnpí) - refreshing 芬芳 (fēnfāng) - fragrant 嗅觉 (xiùjué) - sense of smell 馥郁 (fùyù) - rich fragrance

Grammar to Know

Adjective Predicates with '很'

这朵花很好闻。 (No '是' needed).

The 'A-not-A' Question Pattern

好不好闻？ (Is it good-smelling or not?)

Attribute with '的'

好闻的味道。 (A pleasant smell).

Degree Adverbs

非常、特别、真 before 好闻.

Comparative with '更'

这个更好闻。 (This one is better-smelling).

Examples by Level

这朵花很好闻。

This flower smells very good.

Subject + 很 + Adjective.

咖啡真好闻！

The coffee smells so good!

真 (zhēn) is used for exclamation.

你的香水好闻吗？

Does your perfume smell good?

Adding 吗 (ma) makes it a yes/no question.

这里不好闻。

It doesn't smell good here.

不 (bù) negates the adjective.

妈妈做的饭很好闻。

The food Mom cooked smells very good.

The subject is 'Mom's cooking'.

这种皂好闻。

This soap smells good.

Simple declarative sentence.

面包真好闻。

The bread smells really good.

Using '真' for emphasis.

那个好闻吗？

Does that one smell good?

Using '那个' as a pronoun.

这种花的味道很好闻。

The smell of this flower is very pleasant.

味道 (wèidào) means 'smell'.

我觉得这种香水更好闻。

I think this perfume smells even better.

更 (gèng) is used for comparison.

洗手液的味道挺好闻的。

The smell of the hand soap is quite nice.

挺...的 (tǐng...de) means 'quite'.

这个药的味道不好闻。

The smell of this medicine is not good.

Describing a negative smell.

你喜欢好闻的花吗？

Do you like pleasant-smelling flowers?

好闻 acts as an adjective modifying '花'.

这件衣服上有好闻的味道。

There is a nice smell on this piece of clothing.

Using '有' (to have) to describe the presence of a smell.

那个地方的味道不好闻。

The smell of that place is not pleasant.

Negation with '不好闻'.

这种茶好不好闻？

Does this tea smell good or not?

A-not-A question pattern.

雨后的空气特别好闻。

The air after the rain smells especially good.

雨后 (yǔ hòu) means 'after rain'.

我买了这个，因为它的味道很好闻。

I bought this because its smell is very pleasant.

Using '因为' (because) to explain a choice.

这种洗发水有一种好闻的果香。

This shampoo has a pleasant fruity fragrance.

果香 (guǒxiāng) means 'fruity scent'.

比起玫瑰，我更喜欢百合，因为它更好闻。

Compared to roses, I like lilies more because they smell better.

比起... (bǐqǐ) means 'compared to'.

屋子里弥漫着好闻的蛋糕味。

The room is filled with the pleasant smell of cake.

弥漫 (mímàn) means 'to fill the air/pervade'.

虽然它不好看，但是很好闻。

Although it's not good-looking, it smells very good.

虽然...但是... (although... but...).

这种木头有一种淡雅而好闻的香气。

This wood has an elegant and pleasant fragrance.

淡雅 (dànyǎ) means 'simple and elegant'.

我想要一瓶味道好闻的润肤露。

I want a bottle of pleasant-smelling body lotion.

Complex noun phrase as an object.

这种植物不仅好看，而且味道也很好闻。

This plant is not only good-looking but also smells very good.

不仅...而且... (not only... but also...).

每次闻到这种好闻的味道，我都会想起童年。

Every time I smell this pleasant scent, I think of my childhood.

每次...都... (every time... always...).

那种香水的后调非常温和、好闻。

The base note of that perfume is very gentle and pleasant.

后调 (hòudiào) refers to the base notes of a fragrance.

在这片森林里，空气变得格外好闻。

In this forest, the air becomes exceptionally pleasant-smelling.

格外 (géwài) means 'exceptionally'.

尽管价格昂贵，但因为它很好闻，还是有很多人买。

Despite the high price, many people still buy it because it smells so good.

尽管...但... (despite... but...).

这种新出的洗衣液味道清爽，挺好闻的。

This new laundry detergent has a fresh and quite pleasant smell.

清爽 (qīngshuǎng) means 'fresh/refreshing'.

我不喜欢太浓的味道，这种淡淡的就很好闻。

I don't like scents that are too strong; this faint one smells very good.

淡淡的 (dàndàn de) means 'faint/light'.

这种草药在晒干之后会变得更好闻。

These herbs become more pleasant-smelling after being dried in the sun.

晒干 (shàigān) means 'to dry in the sun'.

书页间散发出的那种陈旧而好闻的气息，让他着迷。

The old yet pleasant scent emanating from between the pages of the book fascinated him.

散发出 (sànfā chū) means 'to emanate/give off'.

这种香氛的设计初衷就是为了营造一种好闻且放松的氛围。

The original intention of this fragrance design was to create a pleasant and relaxing atmosphere.

营造 (yíngzào) means 'to construct/create (an atmosphere)'.

好的厨师知道如何利用食材本身好闻的香气来诱发食欲。

A good chef knows how to use the pleasant natural aromas of ingredients to stimulate the appetite.

诱发 (yòufā) means 'to induce/stimulate'.

这种木质调的香水，不仅好闻，还给人一种稳重的感觉。

This woody perfume not only smells good but also gives a sense of steadiness.

木质调 (mùzhì diào) means 'woody notes'.

虽然这种花的味道初闻并不出众，但越闻越觉得好闻。

Although the scent of this flower isn't striking at first, the more you smell it, the better it seems.

越...越... (the more... the more...).

那种好闻的泥土气息是大地对雨水的反馈。

That pleasant earthy scent is the earth's response to the rain.

反馈 (fǎnkuì) means 'feedback/response'.

他非常挑剔，很少有香水能被他评价为“好闻”。

He is very fastidious; few perfumes are ever described as 'pleasant-smelling' by him.

挑剔 (tiāotì) means 'fastidious/picky'.

这种室内喷雾能有效去除异味，留下好闻的余香。

This indoor spray can effectively remove odors and leave a pleasant lingering scent.

余香 (yúxiāng) means 'lingering fragrance'.

这种罕见的兰花所散发出的好闻幽香，足以让任何路人为之驻足。

The pleasant and faint fragrance emitted by this rare orchid is enough to make any passerby stop in their tracks.

为之驻足 (wèi zhī zhùzú) means 'to stop for it'.

气味是记忆的载体，那抹好闻的皂香总能瞬间将他拉回故乡的夏天。

Scent is a carrier of memory; that pleasant soapy smell always instantly pulls him back to summers in his hometown.

载体 (zǎitǐ) means 'carrier/vehicle'.

文人墨客常以“好闻”来形容墨汁的清香，那是文化积淀的味道。

Literati and poets often use 'pleasant-smelling' to describe the light fragrance of ink, which is the scent of cultural accumulation.

积淀 (jīdiàn) means 'accumulation/deposits'.

这种复古香水的配方极佳，其好闻程度绝非现代廉价合成香料可比。

The formula of this vintage perfume is excellent; its pleasantness is by no means comparable to modern cheap synthetic fragrances.

绝非...可比 (juéfēi... kěbǐ) means 'by no means comparable'.

与其用华丽的辞藻堆砌，不如用一个“好闻”来表达最直观的愉悦。

Rather than piling up gorgeous rhetoric, it's better to use 'pleasant-smelling' to express the most intuitive pleasure.

与其...不如... (rather than... it's better...).

中药房里那种独特而好闻的药香，蕴含着几千年的医治智慧。

The unique and pleasant medicinal scent in a Chinese pharmacy contains thousands of years of healing wisdom.

蕴含 (yùnhán) means 'to contain/embody'.

那种好闻的香气在空气中氤氲开来，营造出一种超凡脱俗的意境。

That pleasant fragrance misted through the air, creating an otherworldly and refined atmosphere.

氤氲 (yīnyūn) is a literary term for mist/smoke swirling.

对于嗅觉敏锐的人来说，寻找一种好闻的味道就像是在进行一场灵魂的探险。

For those with a keen sense of smell, searching for a pleasant scent is like embarking on an adventure of the soul.

敏锐 (mǐnruì) means 'keen/sharp'.

Common Collocations

味道好闻

特别好闻

好闻的气味

挺好闻的

不好闻

香水好闻

空气好闻

肥皂好闻

花香好闻

真好闻

Common Phrases

好闻的味道

— A pleasant smell. Used to describe any agreeable scent.

厨房里传出好闻的味道。

好闻极了

— Extremely good-smelling. Used for extreme praise.

这咖啡的味道好闻极了！

不好闻的味道

— An unpleasant smell. A polite way to say something stinks.

车里有一种不好闻的味道。

闻起来好闻

— Smells good. A common way to describe the act of smelling.

这种花闻起来很好闻。

特别好闻的花

— An especially fragrant flower.

这是一种特别好闻的花。

好闻的香氛

— A pleasant fragrance or home scent.

我喜欢这种好闻的香氛。

那种好闻的味道

— That (specific) pleasant smell.

我记得那种好闻的味道。

极其好闻

— Exceedingly good-smelling.

这种罕见的植物极其好闻。

没那么好闻

— Not that good-smelling.

这瓶香水没那么好闻。

自然好闻

— Naturally pleasant-smelling.

这种木材的味道自然好闻。

Often Confused With

好闻 vs 好听

Means 'sounds good'. Beginners often confuse hearing and smelling.

好闻 vs 好吃

Means 'tastes good'. Use '好闻' for the aroma before eating.

好闻 vs 好看

Means 'looks good'. Use '好闻' specifically for the nose.

Idioms & Expressions

"鸟语花香"

— Songs of birds and fragrance of flowers. Describes a beautiful spring day.

春天到了，公园里鸟语花香。

Literary

"口齿留香"

— Leaving a fragrance in the mouth and teeth. Used for delicious food or tea.

这种好茶让人口齿留香。

Literary

"芬芳馥郁"

— Rich and fragrant. Describes a very strong, pleasant scent.

花园里芬芳馥郁。

Formal

"沁人心脾"

— Gladdening the heart and refreshing the mind. Describes a refreshing scent or feeling.

清晨的空气沁人心脾。

Literary

"香气扑鼻"

— A fragrance that hits the nose. Used when a scent is strong and immediate.

一进屋就香气扑鼻。

Neutral

"国色天香"

— National beauty and heavenly fragrance. Originally described peonies, now used for beautiful women.

她真是国色天香。

Literary

"寻香而去"

— To follow the fragrance. To go towards a good smell.

他寻香而去，找到了面包店。

Literary

"桂子飘香"

— The fragrance of osmanthus floating in the air. Used to describe autumn.

农历八月，桂子飘香。

Literary

"暗香盈袖"

— Faint fragrance filling the sleeves. A poetic way to describe being surrounded by scent.

黄昏时分，暗香盈袖。

Poetic

"闻香识人"

— To know a person by their scent. Implies a deep connection to a specific smell.

这真是一场闻香识人的旅程。

Metaphorical

Easily Confused

好闻 vs 香 (xiāng)

Both mean 'smelling good'.

'香' is more formal or refers to food/incense; '好闻' is more subjective and conversational.

这饭很香 (Food) vs. 你的香水很好闻 (Perfume).

好闻 vs 闻 (wén)

Means 'to smell' now but 'to hear' in Classical Chinese.

In modern speech, '闻' is almost always 'smell'. '听' is 'hear'.

我闻到了花香 (I smelled flowers).

好闻 vs 清新 (qīngxīn)

Both describe pleasant air.

'清新' is specifically 'fresh/clean'; '好闻' is just 'pleasant'.

空气很清新。

好闻 vs 味道 (wèidào)

Often used together with '好闻'.

'味道' is the noun (smell/flavor); '好闻' is the adjective.

味道很好闻。

好闻 vs 难闻 (nánwén)

Opposite of '好闻'.

Use '难' for 'bad' instead of '好' for 'good'.

垃圾的味道很难闻。

Sentence Patterns

Subject + 很好闻。

这朵花很好闻。

Subject + 的味道 + 很好闻。

咖啡的味道很好闻。

Subject + 比 + Object + 更好闻。

这种香水比那种更好闻。

有一种 + 好闻的 + Noun。

有一种好闻的味道。

不仅...而且...很好闻。

这朵花不仅好看，而且很好闻。

越来越 + 好闻。

这里的空气越来越好闻了。

越闻越 + 好闻。

这种花越闻越好闻。

与其说...不如说...好闻。

与其说它好看，不如说它好闻。

Word Family

Nouns

味 (wèi) - taste/smell

味道 (wèidào) - smell/flavor

气味 (qìwèi) - odor/scent

Verbs

闻 (wén) - to smell

嗅 (xiù) - to sniff/scent

Adjectives

难闻 (nánwén) - bad-smelling

香 (xiāng) - fragrant

香水 (xiāngshuǐ) - perfume

花香 (huāxiāng) - flower fragrance

清新 (qīngxīn) - fresh

难受 (nánshòu) - uncomfortable (often from a bad smell)

感觉 (gǎnjué) - to feel/feeling

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely common in daily spoken Mandarin.

Common Mistakes

Using '好闻' for music. → 好听
You cannot 'smell' music. Use '好听' for sounds and songs.
说 '这花是很好闻'。 → 这花很好闻。
In Chinese, you don't use '是' (is) with adjectives unless emphasizing contrast.
Using '好闻' to mean 'tasty'. → 好吃
Even if food smells good, the act of eating it requires '好吃'. Use '好闻' only for the scent.
Negating as '好不闻'。 → 不好闻
The '不' must come before the '好' in this compound adjective.
Confusing '闻' (wén) with '问' (wèn). → 闻 (2nd tone)
Changing the tone changes the meaning from 'smell' to 'ask'.

Tips

Avoid '是'

Don't say '这花是好闻'. In Chinese, the adverb '很' (hěn) is usually enough to link the subject and the adjective.

Use with '味道'

Pairing '好闻' with '味道' (wèidào - smell) makes your Chinese sound more natural and precise.

Tone Check

Make sure to get the rising tone on 'wén' right, or it might sound like you are saying 'good to ask' (hǎowèn).

Safe Compliment

Complimenting a scent with '好闻' is usually very safe and appreciated in social settings like shopping.

Kitchen Praise

Say '好闻' when you enter a house where someone is cooking. It's a great way to show appreciation to the host.

The 'Hǎo' Pattern

Learn '好闻' alongside '好吃', '好看', and '好听'. They all follow the same logic: Good + [Sense Verb].

Radical Memory

The radical in '闻' is '门' (door). Imagine smelling something through a cracked door.

Subjective vs Objective

Remember that '好闻' is your opinion. If you want to say something is objectively fragrant, '香' is a strong choice.

Proper Negation

Always use '不好闻' to say something smells bad. Never say '不闻好' or '好不闻'.

Laundry Love

Chinese people love describing the smell of sun-dried laundry as '好闻'. Use it to talk about home comforts.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine walking through a DOOR (门) and using your EAR (耳) to 'hear' the scent of a beautiful flower. It's so GOOD (好) that you exclaim 'Hǎo wén!'

Visual Association

Picture a large nose next to a 'thumbs up' emoji, hovering over a steaming plate of food or a blooming rose.

Word Web

好闻 (Smells good) 好看 (Looks good) 好吃 (Eats good) 好听 (Sounds good) 好玩 (Fun to play) 好用 (Useful) 好喝 (Drinks good) 好笑 (Funny)

Challenge

Try to find three things in your house today that are '好闻' and say the Chinese sentence '这个很好闻' out loud for each one.

Word Origin

The compound '好闻' is a modern Mandarin construction using the prefix '好' (good) + a sensory verb. The character '好' dates back to oracle bone script, depicting a woman and a child, representing 'goodness' or 'affection.' The character '闻' (wén) originally depicted an ear (耳) inside a gate (门), meaning 'to hear.' Over centuries, its meaning expanded to include sensing things through other organs, eventually becoming the primary verb for 'to smell' in modern Chinese.

Original meaning: The literal original meaning of the components would have been 'Good to hear,' but in modern usage, it has shifted entirely to 'Good to smell.'

Sino-Tibetan > Sinitic > Mandarin.

Cultural Context

Be careful when describing people; while '你身上很好闻' (You smell good) is a compliment, it can be very personal/intimate.

English speakers might find it strange that 'smell' and 'hear' share a character (闻), but it's similar to how we 'sense' things in general.

The classic film 'Scent of a Woman' is translated in Chinese as '闻香识女人' (Wén Xiāng Shí Nǚrén). Osmanthus (桂花) is the most famous '好闻' flower in Chinese literature. Traditional TCM pharmacies are known for their distinct, '好闻' herbal scent.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At a perfume shop

这个味道好闻吗？
我觉得那个更好闻。
我不喜欢这个，不好闻。
这种香水很好闻。

In the kitchen

你在做什么？真好闻！
饭菜的味道好闻极了。
厨房里有好闻的味道。
闻起来真好闻。

In a garden

这些花很好闻。
空气里的味道真好闻。
你闻闻，这个好闻吗？
好闻的花香。

Doing laundry

洗干净的衣服很好闻。
洗衣液的味道挺好闻的。
有一种好闻的清香。
晒过的被子很好闻。

Complimenting someone

你用的香水很好闻。
你身上有一种好闻的味道。
这个洗发水很好闻。
你闻起来很好闻。

Conversation Starters

"你觉得哪种花的味道最好闻？ (Which flower's scent do you think is the best?)"

"你喜欢味道好闻的蜡烛吗？ (Do you like pleasant-smelling candles?)"

"你觉得雨后的空气好闻吗？ (Do you think the air after rain smells good?)"

"你最喜欢什么好闻的味道？ (What is your favorite pleasant smell?)"

"这种香水的味道你觉得好闻吗？ (Do you think the smell of this perfume is pleasant?)"

Journal Prompts

描述一种让你感到幸福的好闻的味道。 (Describe a pleasant smell that makes you feel happy.)

今天你闻到了什么好闻的东西？ (What pleasant-smelling things did you smell today?)

为什么有些人觉得咖啡的味道很好闻？ (Why do some people think the smell of coffee is very good?)

写一写你童年记忆中最好闻的味道。 (Write about the best smell from your childhood memories.)

如果你可以发明一种好闻的香水，它会是什么味道？ (If you could invent a pleasant perfume, what would it smell like?)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, but it specifically refers to the *aroma* of the food. If you want to say the food tastes good, use '好吃'. If you walk into a kitchen and it smells great, say '真好闻!'.

They are very close. '香' (xiāng) is more like 'fragrant' or 'savory,' while '好闻' is 'pleasant to smell.' '香' can also be a noun, but '好闻' is always an adjective. In casual talk, they are often used interchangeably.

It is neutral. You can use it with your friends, your boss, or in a written story. It is polite and clear.

Use '更好闻' (gèng hǎowén). For example: '这朵花更好闻' (This flower smells better).

You can say someone's perfume or soap is '好闻,' but be careful. Saying '你很好闻' (You smell good) is quite personal and should only be said to close friends or partners.

In modern Mandarin, yes. However, you will still see it meaning 'hear' in words like '新闻' (news) or '听闻' (rumor).

You can say '好闻吗？' (Hǎowén ma?) or '好不好闻？' (Hǎo bù hǎowén?).

The most common opposite is '难闻' (nánwén), which means 'bad-smelling' or 'unpleasant to smell'.

Absolutely. '空气很好闻' (The air smells good) is a very common phrase, especially in the mountains or after rain.

It is an adjective. In Chinese grammar, adjectives can function as predicates (the main part of the sentence) without the verb 'to be'.