When you want to say that you smell something, the Chinese word to use is 闻到 (wéndào). It literally combines 闻 (wén), meaning 'to smell', with 到 (dào), a resultative complement indicating successful completion of an action. So, 闻到 means you successfully perceived a smell.
For example, if you want to say 'I smell something delicious,' you would say '我闻到很香的味道 (Wǒ wéndào hěn xiāng de wèidào).' Here, 香 (xiāng) means 'fragrant' or 'delicious (smell),' and 味道 (wèidào) means 'smell' or 'taste'.
It's important not to confuse 闻到 (wéndào) with just 闻 (wén). While 闻 means 'to smell' as an action, 闻到 specifically implies that the smell was perceived. Think of it like the difference between 'to listen' and 'to hear' in English.
So, the next time you encounter a smell, whether good or bad, you can use 闻到 to describe your experience!
When you want to express the act of perceiving a smell, the Chinese verb to use is 闻到 (wéndào).
It literally means 'to smell' or 'to catch a scent'.
This verb is commonly used when you encounter a smell, whether it's pleasant or unpleasant.
For example, you might 闻到 the smell of food cooking or the scent of flowers.
When you want to express the act of perceiving a smell, the Chinese verb to use is 闻到 (wéndào).
It’s a resultative verb, which means the 到 (dào) indicates the successful completion of the action of smelling. So, you successfully 'smelled' something.
For example, if you want to say 'I smell something delicious,' you would say '我闻到很好闻的东西 (Wǒ wéndào hěn hǎowén de dōngxī).'
This verb is commonly used in everyday situations when discussing odors, both pleasant and unpleasant.
When you want to express the act of perceiving a smell, the verb 闻到 (wéndào) is your go-to. It literally means 'to smell and perceive', highlighting the successful reception of an odor. Think of it as 'to catch a scent' or 'to detect a smell'. This verb is commonly used in everyday conversations to talk about smelling food, flowers, or even unpleasant odors. It implies that the smell has reached your nose and you've recognized it.
When you want to express the act of perceiving a smell, the verb to use is 闻到 (wéndào). This verb literally means "to smell and perceive/reach." It's commonly used when you successfully detect an odor.
For example, if you say 我闻到花香了 (Wǒ wén dào huāxiāng le), it means "I smelled the fragrance of flowers." The resultative complement 到 (dào) emphasizes the successful completion of the action of smelling, indicating that the smell was indeed perceived.
You can use 闻到 (wéndào) for both pleasant and unpleasant smells. If something smells bad, you might say, 我闻到一股臭味 (Wǒ wén dào yī gǔ chòuwèi), meaning "I smelled a bad odor." This verb is essential for describing your sensory experience of smell in Chinese.
§ What Does 闻到 Mean?
- DEFINITION
- 闻到 (wéndào) is a verb that means 'to smell'. It specifically refers to the act of perceiving a scent, often by chance or as a result of something else. Think of it as 'to catch a smell' or 'to detect an odor'. It implies that the smell has reached you.
When you use 闻到, you're usually talking about experiencing a smell, rather than actively sniffing something. For example, if you walk into a bakery and suddenly notice the scent of fresh bread, you would use 闻到. If you intentionally put your nose to a flower to smell it, you might use just 闻 (wén), but 闻到 emphasizes the perception of the smell.
It's a resultative verb, which means the '到' (dào) indicates the successful completion or achievement of the action. In this case, the action is 闻 (wén, to smell), and the '到' indicates that you have successfully perceived the smell. If you just say 闻, it could mean 'to smell' in general or 'to sniff', but it doesn't necessarily mean you actually detected a scent.
§ Common Uses of 闻到
You'll often hear 闻到 when people are describing a specific scent they encountered. It can be a good smell, a bad smell, or just a neutral smell. The key is that the smell has reached their nose and they have perceived it.
- Smelling food or drinks: This is a very common use. You might 闻到 the smell of coffee, cooking, or fresh fruit.
- Smelling natural things: Flowers, rain, fresh air, or even the scent of the ocean.
- Smelling unpleasant things: Smoke, garbage, or pollution.
- Smelling people or animals: Though be careful with this, as it can sometimes be impolite depending on context.
我一进门就闻到了咖啡的香味。
Translation hint: As soon as I entered, I smelled the aroma of coffee.
你有没有闻到什么烧焦的味道？
Translation hint: Have you smelled something burning?
我闻到了花香。
Translation hint: I smelled the fragrance of flowers.
Notice how in all these examples, the subject (我, 你) is the one experiencing the smell. The smell is often something that is present in the environment and reaches the person's nose without them necessarily making a strong effort to seek it out. It's a passive reception of a scent, even though it's expressed with an active verb.
In short, when you want to say you perceived a smell, 闻到 is your go-to word. It clearly communicates that the smell registered with you.
§ Understanding 闻到 (wéndào)
- DEFINITION
- To smell; to detect an odor.
The Chinese word 闻到 (wéndào) is a verb that means 'to smell' or 'to detect an odor'. It's pretty straightforward, but let's break down how to use it correctly in sentences.
§ Basic Sentence Structure
The most common way to use 闻到 (wéndào) is in a simple Subject + 闻到 + Object structure. The object will be the thing that is being smelled.
我闻到了花香。
- Translation Hint
- I smelled the fragrance of flowers. (我: I, 了: past tense marker, 花香: flower fragrance)
他闻到了烧焦的味道。
- Translation Hint
- He smelled a burning smell. (他: he, 了: past tense marker, 烧焦的味道: burning smell)
§ Using 了 (le) with 闻到 (wéndào)
You'll often see 闻到 (wéndào) followed by 了 (le). This particle indicates the completion of an action, meaning the smelling has happened. It's similar to how we use past tense in English.
你闻到了什么？
- Translation Hint
- What did you smell? (你: you, 了: past tense marker, 什么: what)
The verb 闻 (wén) means 'to smell' as an action, like sniffing. But 闻到 (wéndào) means 'to successfully smell' or 'to detect the smell'. The 到 (dào) here is a resultative complement, indicating the achievement of the action.
§ Negative Form
To say you didn't smell something, you use 没 (méi) or 没有 (méiyǒu) before 闻到 (wéndào).
我没有闻到任何奇怪的味道。
- Translation Hint
- I didn't smell any strange odor. (我: I, 没有: did not, 任何: any, 奇怪的味道: strange odor)
§ Potential Outcomes
You can also use 闻得到 (wéndédào) and 闻不到 (wéndébùdào) to talk about whether one can or cannot smell something. This uses the potential complement structure.
- 闻得到 (wéndédào): Can smell
- 闻不到 (wéndébùdào): Cannot smell
房间里太臭了，我什么都闻不到。
- Translation Hint
- The room is too stinky, I can't smell anything. (房间里: in the room, 太...了: too..., 臭: stinky, 什么都: anything at all)
虽然很远，但我还是闻得到烧烤的味道。
- Translation Hint
- Although it's far, I can still smell the barbecue. (虽然...但: although...but, 很远: very far, 我: I, 还是: still, 烧烤的味道: barbecue smell)
§ Don't confuse it with 听到 (tīngdào) or 看到 (kàndào)
Many learners, especially at the A2 level, tend to mix up verbs related to sensory perception. While 闻到 (wéndào) specifically means 'to smell' and implies a successful detection of an odor, 听到 (tīngdào) means 'to hear' and 看到 (kàndào) means 'to see'. The '到' (dào) in all these verbs indicates the successful completion of the action. So, you wouldn't use 闻到 to talk about hearing something or seeing something.
§ Using 闻 (wén) alone vs. 闻到 (wéndào)
While 闻 (wén) means 'to smell' or 'to sniff', it doesn't necessarily imply that you actually detected an odor. It's more about the action of smelling. When you add '到' (dào), it confirms that you successfully smelled something. Think of it like the difference between 'I tried to smell it' and 'I smelled it'.
- DEFINITION
- 闻 (wén): to smell (the action), to sniff
- DEFINITION
- 闻到 (wéndào): to smell (and successfully detect an odor)
他正在闻花。(Tā zhèngzài wén huā.)
(He is smelling the flowers. / He is sniffing the flowers.)
我闻到一股咖啡的味道。(Wǒ wéndào yī gǔ kāfēi de wèidào.)
(I smelled a coffee smell. / I detected the smell of coffee.)
§ Forgetting the object or using it incorrectly
When you use 闻到 (wéndào), you're smelling *something*. It's important to include what you smelled. Sometimes learners might try to use it without specifying the object, or they might place the object in an unnatural position in the sentence.
我闻到了花香。(Wǒ wéndào le huāxiāng.)
(I smelled the fragrance of flowers.)
你闻到什么了吗？(Nǐ wéndào shénme le ma?)
(Did you smell anything?)
A common mistake is to try and say something like "我闻到" (Wǒ wéndào) without a follow-up, expecting it to mean "I can smell." While context might make it understandable, it's grammatically incomplete. You're always smelling *something* or *a kind of smell*.
§ Not using '到' (dào) when a successful detection is implied
If you want to emphasize that you successfully perceived an odor, '到' (dào) is crucial. Without it, the sentence might sound incomplete or convey a different nuance. For example, if you say "我闻咖啡" (Wǒ wén kāfēi), it sounds like you're actively smelling coffee, perhaps to check its aroma, but not necessarily that you've *detected* an odor you're reacting to.
- COMMON ERROR
- 我闻到不好。(Wǒ wéndào bù hǎo.)
(Incorrect. This tries to say "I smell bad" in terms of an odor, but it's grammatically wrong. If you mean *you* smell bad, you'd use a different structure. If you mean *something* smells bad to you, you need to specify the smell.)
- CORRECT USAGE
- 我闻到一股臭味。(Wǒ wéndào yī gǔ chòuwèi.)
(I smelled a bad odor.)
The key is that 闻到 focuses on the *result* of the smelling action – that the smell entered your perception. Always think about whether you want to express the action of smelling or the successful perception of a smell.
§ Understanding 闻到 (wéndào)
The verb 闻到 (wéndào) is a very common and practical word in Chinese. It means 'to smell' in the sense of perceiving an odor. The '到' (dào) in 闻到 indicates the successful completion of the action, meaning you actually detect the smell.
- DEFINITION
- to smell (to perceive an odor)
我闻到一股很香的味道。(Wǒ wéndào yī gǔ hěn xiāng de wèidào.) – I smelled a very fragrant odor.
你闻到什么了吗？(Nǐ wéndào shénme le ma?) – Did you smell anything?
§ 闻 (wén): The Action of Smelling
While 闻到 (wéndào) is about the result, 闻 (wén) on its own refers to the act of smelling or sniffing, without necessarily implying that a smell was perceived. Think of it as 'to take a sniff' or 'to try to smell'.
他闻了闻花香。(Tā wén le wén huāxiāng.) – He sniffed the fragrance of the flowers.
你应该闻一下这瓶酒。(Nǐ yīnggāi wén yīxià zhè píng jiǔ.) – You should smell this bottle of wine (take a sniff).
§ 嗅 (xiù): More Formal Smelling
The character 嗅 (xiù) also means 'to smell' or 'to sniff', but it's generally more formal or literary than 闻 (wén) or 闻到 (wéndào). You'll often see it in scientific contexts, or when referring to animals using their sense of smell. For everyday conversation, stick to 闻 (wén) or 闻到 (wéndào).
狗的嗅觉很灵敏。(Gǒu de xiùjué hěn língmǐn.) – Dogs have a very sensitive sense of smell.
You might also encounter terms like 嗅探 (xiùtàn), meaning 'to sniff out' or 'to scout', which uses 嗅 (xiù) to imply a more active, investigative kind of smelling.
§ Distinguishing Smell Verbs: A Summary
Let's put it simply:
- 闻到 (wéndào): You perceived a smell. The smell reached you. This is the most common verb when you successfully detect an odor.
- 闻 (wén): You performed the action of smelling or sniffing. You might or might not have perceived a smell.
- 嗅 (xiù): More formal or scientific. Often refers to an active, intentional sniffing, or the sense of smell itself, especially for animals. Use it carefully in daily conversation.
Here's a quick guide:
- When to use 闻到 (wéndào)
- When you want to say you successfully smelled something. The smell came to you, and you registered it.
- When to use 闻 (wén)
- When you are talking about the act of smelling or sniffing, without necessarily confirming that a smell was detected. For example, 'I tried to smell the soup.' (我闻了闻汤。)
- When to use 嗅 (xiù)
- In more formal or technical contexts, or when discussing the sense of smell (especially for animals). Avoid for casual conversations about smelling.
By understanding these distinctions, you can choose the correct verb to express yourself accurately when talking about smells in Chinese. Focus on 闻到 (wéndào) for successful smell perception and 闻 (wén) for the action of sniffing in your daily practice.
Fun Fact
While 闻 alone can also mean 'to smell', adding 到 specifies that the smelling action has been completed and the scent has been successfully perceived. It's similar to how 'see' and 'see to' might convey a slight difference in emphasis in English, though 'to see' usually implies successful perception as well. This 'verb + 到' structure is common in Chinese to indicate the accomplishment or result of an action.
Difficulty Rating
Common characters, straightforward meaning.
Common characters, not complex to write.
Easy to pronounce, common usage.
Clear pronunciation, easy to distinguish.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
闻到 can be used to describe smelling something that is present in the environment.
我闻到花香了。 (I smelled the scent of flowers.)
It can also be used to describe smelling something that is not immediately present, but you are recalling its smell.
我闻到你做的饭的味道了。 (I smelled the taste of the food you made.)
闻到 is often followed by a noun or a noun phrase that refers to the thing being smelled.
他闻到一股奇怪的味道。 (He smelled a strange odor.)
When using 闻到, the focus is on the act of smelling and perceiving a scent.
你闻到什么了吗？ (Did you smell anything?)
In some contexts, 闻到 can also imply that the smell is strong or noticeable.
我闻到很浓的烟味。 (I smelled a very strong smell of smoke.)
Examples by Level
我闻到花香。
I smelled the fragrance of flowers.
你闻到什么了吗？
Did you smell anything?
我闻到很香的味道。
I smelled a very fragrant smell.
狗能闻到食物。
Dogs can smell food.
他闻到烟味了。
He smelled smoke.
我闻到咖啡的味道。
I smelled the aroma of coffee.
你闻到外面下雨了吗？
Did you smell that it's raining outside?
我闻到烤面包的味道。
I smelled the scent of baking bread.
我闻到花香了。
I smelled the fragrance of flowers.
你闻到什么味道了吗？
Did you smell anything?
他闻到烟味，知道有人在吸烟。
He smelled smoke and knew someone was smoking.
我一进门就闻到饭菜的香味。
As soon as I entered, I smelled the aroma of food.
狗能闻到很远的气味。
Dogs can smell scents from afar.
你有没有闻到烧焦的味道？
Did you smell something burning?
她喜欢闻到刚烤好的面包的味道。
She likes to smell the scent of freshly baked bread.
我们闻到空气中有一股奇怪的气味。
We smelled a strange odor in the air.
我闻到花香了。
I smelled the fragrance of flowers.
你闻到什么了吗？
Did you smell anything?
我闻到一股烧焦的味道。
I smelled a burning smell.
他闻到烟味就赶紧打开窗户。
He quickly opened the window as soon as he smelled smoke.
我能闻到晚餐的香味。
I can smell the aroma of dinner.
你有没有闻到这里有煤气味？
Do you smell gas here?
猫闻到鱼的味道就跑过来了。
The cat ran over as soon as it smelled the fish.
我闻到咖啡的味道，就知道你起床了。
I smelled the coffee, and I knew you were awake.
你闻到了什么奇怪的味道吗？我觉得好像有什么东西烧焦了。
Did you smell anything strange? I think something is burning.
我一进门就闻到了饭菜的香味，妈妈肯定做了我最爱吃的菜。
As soon as I entered, I smelled the aroma of food. Mom must have cooked my favorite dish.
她闭上眼睛，深深地闻了一下花香，脸上露出了满足的笑容。
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath of the flowers' fragrance, and a satisfied smile appeared on her face.
通过闻气味，经验丰富的酿酒师可以判断葡萄酒的品质。
By smelling the aroma, experienced winemakers can judge the quality of the wine.
这只警犬经过训练，能够准确地闻到毒品和爆炸物。
This police dog is trained to accurately smell drugs and explosives.
空气中弥漫着烤肉的香气，让我忍不住想多吃几串。
The air was filled with the aroma of roasted meat, making me want to eat a few more skewers.
他似乎闻到了危险的气息，立刻警惕起来，四处张望。
He seemed to smell danger, immediately became alert, and looked around.
尽管戴着口罩，我还是能闻到医院里特有的消毒水味。
Even with a mask on, I could still smell the unique disinfectant scent of the hospital.
我一进门就闻到一股奇怪的味道。
As soon as I entered, I smelled a strange odor.
你能闻到花香吗？
Can you smell the fragrance of the flowers?
他闻到了咖啡的香味，知道妈妈已经起床了。
He smelled the aroma of coffee and knew his mom was already up.
我闻到有什么东西烧焦了。
I smell something burning.
猫咪闻到鱼的味道就跑过来了。
The cat ran over as soon as it smelled the fish.
我远远地就闻到烤肉的味道了。
I could smell the barbecue from afar.
她喜欢闻到雨后泥土的清新气味。
She likes to smell the fresh scent of earth after rain.
侦探闻到了一丝不寻常的气味，开始警惕起来。
The detective smelled a hint of something unusual and became alert.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
我闻到一股香气。
I smell a fragrance. (一股: a whiff of)
你闻到什么了吗？
Did you smell anything? (什么: what)
我闻到厨房里有东西烧焦了。
I smell something burning in the kitchen. (东西: something; 烧焦: burned)
他闻到烟味，知道有人在吸烟。
He smelled smoke and knew someone was smoking. (知道: knew; 吸烟: smoking)
我一进门就闻到了饭菜的香味。
As soon as I entered, I smelled the aroma of food. (一...就: as soon as...then; 进门: entered)
这个味道太淡了，我闻不到。
This smell is too faint, I can't smell it. (太...了: too...; 淡: faint)
我闻到一股甜味，是不是蛋糕好了？
I smell a sweet smell, is the cake ready? (甜味: sweet smell; 是不是: isn't it; 好了: ready)
小狗闻到主人的气味就跑过去了。
The puppy smelled its owner's scent and ran over. (小狗: puppy; 主人: owner; 气味: scent; 跑过去: ran over)
我闻到一股很熟悉的气味。
I smell a very familiar scent. (熟悉: familiar)
快闻闻这个花，真香！
Quick, smell this flower, it's so fragrant! (快: quick; 真: truly; 香: fragrant)
Grammar Patterns
Idioms & Expressions
"闻闻"
to sniff/take a whiff (often playful or tentative)
你闻闻这个花，很香！ (You sniff this flower, it's very fragrant!)
neutral"闻名"
well-known/famous (literally 'smell reputation')
他是一位闻名世界的科学家。 (He is a world-renowned scientist.)
neutral"闻所未闻"
unprecedented/never heard of before (often used to express surprise or shock)
这种事情简直是闻所未闻！ (This kind of thing is simply unheard of!)
formal"闻风而动"
to act immediately upon hearing news/to move with the wind (often implies quick reaction or following a trend)
听到这个消息，大家都闻风而动。 (Upon hearing this news, everyone acted immediately.)
neutral"一闻便知"
to know at first smell/to be obvious from the smell
这汤坏了，一闻便知。 (This soup is spoiled, you can tell from the smell.)
neutral"闻过则喜"
to be happy to be corrected/to welcome criticism (literally 'smell mistakes and be happy')
他这个人闻过则喜，所以进步很快。 (He is a person who welcomes criticism, so he improves quickly.)
formal"闻鸡起舞"
to get up at the first crow of the cock and practice (diligence in study or work)
为了考试，他每天闻鸡起舞。 (For the exam, he gets up at dawn every day to study.)
formal"充耳不闻"
to turn a deaf ear to/to ignore (literally 'fill ears but not hear')
他对我的建议充耳不闻。 (He turned a deaf ear to my suggestions.)
neutral"臭名远闻"
infamous/notorious (literally 'stink reputation far heard')
那个地方臭名远闻，最好别去。 (That place is notorious, it's best not to go.)
neutral"不闻不问"
to be indifferent/to pay no attention (literally 'not hear not ask')
他对家里的事情总是爱理不理，不闻不问。 (He always ignores family matters and shows no interest.)
neutralSentence Patterns
Subj. + 闻到 + Noun.
我闻到花香。(I smell the fragrance of flowers.)
Subj. + 闻到 + Adj. 的 + Noun.
我闻到好闻的咖啡味。(I smell the good smell of coffee.)
Subj. + 闻到 + smell of (something) + 了.
我闻到烧焦的味道了。(I smell something burning.)
Subj. + 闻到 + smell of (something) + 吗?
你闻到什么味道了吗？(Did you smell anything?)
Subj. + 闻到 + Noun + 从 (direction) + 过来.
我闻到一股香气从厨房飘过来。(I smelled a fragrance drifting from the kitchen.)
Subj. + 闻到 + Noun + 让 + someone + Adj.
我闻到一股臭味，让我很不舒服。(I smelled a bad odor that made me very uncomfortable.)
Subj. + 闻到 + 某种气味 + 就会 + Verb.
他一闻到这种花香，就会想起家乡。(As soon as he smells this flower fragrance, he thinks of his hometown.)
Subj. + 闻到 + Noun + 之后 + Verb.
我闻到汽油味之后，立刻检查了车子。(After I smelled gasoline, I immediately checked the car.)
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Tips
Basic Meaning of Wén dào
闻到 (wén dào) literally means 'to smell' something. It's used when your nose actively perceives an odor.
Using with Scents
You'll often use 闻到 with nouns referring to scents, like 花香 (huāxiāng - flower scent) or 咖啡味 (kāfēiwèi - coffee smell).
Resultative Complement
The 到 in 闻到 is a resultative complement, indicating the successful completion of the action (smelling). You did smell it.
Don't confuse with 闻
闻 (wén) alone means 'to sniff' or 'to smell' (the action). 闻到 means 'to have smelled' (the result). For example, 你闻什么？ (Nǐ wén shénme? - What are you sniffing?) vs. 我闻到咖啡味了。(Wǒ wén dào kāfēiwèi le. - I smelled coffee.)
Example: Food Smell
我闻到饭菜的香味了，好香啊！ (Wǒ wén dào fàncài de xiāngwèi le, hǎo xiāng a! - I smelled the aroma of the food, it's so fragrant!)
Example: Bad Smell
他闻到一股奇怪的味道。 (Tā wén dào yī gǔ qíguài de wèidào. - He smelled a strange odor.)
Can be used with 没
You can use 没 (méi) to indicate not smelling something: 我没闻到。 (Wǒ méi wén dào. - I didn't smell it.)
Sense of Perception
Think of 闻到 as the counterpart to 看到 (kàn dào - to see) or 听到 (tīng dào - to hear). They all indicate successfully perceiving something.
Subjective vs. Objective
闻到 is generally more about the subjective experience of perceiving a smell, rather than just the act of sniffing.
Practice with Sentences
Try making your own sentences using 闻到 with different smells you encounter in your daily life. This helps with memorization.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Imagine a dog named Wén (闻) who loves to sniff out treats. When he *wén dào* (闻到) something good, his tail wags! It's like he's saying, 'Wén! Dào you smell that?'
Visual Association
Picture a big, red nose with steam coming out of it, like it's actively *smelling* something. This nose is labeled '闻到'. Think of the steam as the smell reaching the nose.
Word Web
Challenge
Describe five things you *smell* in your daily life using '闻到'. For example, '我闻到咖啡的味道.' (Wǒ wén dào kāfēi de wèidào. - I smell the taste of coffee.)
Word Origin
The character 闻 (wén) means 'to hear' or 'to smell'. The character 到 (dào) means 'to arrive' or 'to reach'.
Original meaning: The combination of 闻 and 到 suggests the action of 'smelling and reaching' the scent, emphasizing the successful perception of an odor.
Sino-Tibetan, Sinitic branch (Mandarin Chinese)Cultural Context
In Chinese culture, the sense of smell is often appreciated, particularly in relation to food, flowers, and even traditional incense. While not as extensively discussed as taste or sight, the ability to 'smell to' (闻到) something is a direct and practical way to express sensory perception. There aren't many specific cultural idioms directly using 闻到, but the concept of smelling good things (like food) or bad things (like pollution) is universally understood and discussed.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Describing smells in everyday life
- 我闻到一股咖啡香。
- I smell a coffee aroma.
- 你闻到什么味道了吗？
- Do you smell anything?
- 他闻到烟味就赶紧开窗。
- He smelled smoke and quickly opened the window.
Talking about food and cooking
- 我闻到饭菜的香味，肚子都饿了。
- I smell the aroma of food; I'm so hungry.
- 这道菜闻起来很香，尝尝看！
- This dish smells delicious, try it!
- 你闻闻，这个汤是不是有点酸？
- Smell this, is this soup a bit sour?
Identifying pleasant or unpleasant odors
- 花园里闻到花香，让人心情很好。
- Smelling flowers in the garden makes people feel good.
- 我闻到一股奇怪的味道，是不是什么东西坏了？
- I smell a strange odor, is something broken?
- 小狗闻到主人的气味就跑了过来。
- The puppy smelled its owner and ran over.
Explaining the action of smelling
- 她闭上眼睛，仔细地闻着花的香味。
- She closed her eyes and carefully smelled the flower's fragrance.
- 你可以闻一闻这瓶香水。
- You can smell this bottle of perfume.
- 猫咪喜欢闻新的东西。
- Cats like to smell new things.
Figurative use, sensing something is wrong
- 我闻到一丝不对劲的气氛。
- I smell a hint of something wrong with the atmosphere.
- 他似乎闻到了商机。
- He seems to have smelled a business opportunity.
- 我们闻到了一些谣言。
- We heard (literally 'smelled') some rumors.
Conversation Starters
"你今天闻到什么特别的味道了吗？"
"你喜欢闻什么味道？为什么？"
"有没有闻到什么味道让你想起过去的事情？"
"在你的家乡，有什么独特的味道是你很怀念的吗？"
"如果有一种味道可以让你瞬间开心，那会是什么味道？"
Journal Prompts
描述你最近一次闻到让你印象深刻的味道，它是什么，在哪里闻到的，给你带来了什么感受？
写一篇关于“气味记忆”的短文，有哪些味道让你想起童年或某个重要时刻？
想象一下你最喜欢的季节，你会闻到哪些独特的气味？这些气味如何影响你的心情？
描述一个你曾经闻到过的最难闻的气味，它是什么，在哪里闻到的，你当时有什么反应？
如果你可以发明一种新的味道，你会发明什么？这种味道会给你带来什么感受？
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsThe Chinese word for 'to smell' is 闻到 (wén dào).
闻 (wén) means 'to smell' or 'to sniff' as an action, but it doesn't necessarily imply that you perceived a smell. For example, 你闻闻这个花 (nǐ wén wén zhè ge huā) means 'You smell this flower.' 闻到 (wén dào) specifically means 'to successfully smell' or 'to perceive a smell.' The 到 (dào) here indicates the successful completion of the action. So, if you say 我闻到花香了 (wǒ wén dào huā xiāng le), it means 'I smelled the fragrance of the flower.'
Yes, 闻到 (wén dào) can be used for both pleasant and unpleasant smells. For example, 你闻到什么味道了吗？(nǐ wén dào shénme wèi dào le ma?) 'Did you smell anything?' can refer to any kind of smell.
You can use 闻到 like this: 我闻到咖啡的味道了 (wǒ wén dào kāfēi de wèi dào le). This means 'I smelled the coffee.' Or, 你闻到烟味了吗？(nǐ wén dào yān wèi le ma?) 'Did you smell smoke?'
Yes, 闻到 (wén dào) is a very common and practical word in everyday Chinese conversation. You'll hear and use it often when talking about senses.
While 闻到 (wén dào) is the most direct and common way to say 'to smell' when you've perceived a smell, you might also encounter just 闻 (wén) when talking about the act of smelling. For example, 他正在闻一朵花 (tā zhèng zài wén yī duǒ huā) means 'He is smelling a flower.' However, if you want to emphasize that you actually detected the smell, 闻到 is the one to use.
The pinyin for 闻到 is wén dào. Both characters are in the second tone. So, it's wén (second tone) dào (fourth tone).
Generally, 闻到 (wén dào) is used for the physical act of smelling with your nose. For metaphorical 'sensing' or 'detecting,' other verbs would be more appropriate, like 感觉到 (gǎn jiàn dào) 'to feel/sense' or 察觉到 (chá jué dào) 'to perceive/detect'.
To say 'I can't smell anything,' you can say: 我什么也闻不到 (wǒ shénme yě wén bú dào). The 不 (bù) negates the ability to perceive the smell.
Here's one: 我闻到一股很香的味道 (wǒ wén dào yī gǔ hěn xiāng de wèi dào). This means 'I smelled a very fragrant smell.' (一股 means 'a waft of' or 'a whiff of').
Test Yourself 144 questions
我能___花香。
The sentence is about smelling the fragrance of flowers. '闻到' means 'to smell'.
他___了咖啡的味道。
The sentence describes smelling the taste of coffee. '闻到' is the correct verb for smelling.
你___什么味道？
This question asks what smell someone perceives. '闻到' is 'to smell'.
我___蛋糕很香。
The sentence indicates that the cake smells good. '闻到' fits this context.
小狗能___主人的气味。
Dogs are known for their sense of smell. '闻到' is 'to smell'.
她___饭菜的香味。
The sentence describes smelling the aroma of food. '闻到' is the appropriate verb.
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: 我____花香。
“闻到” means 'to smell'. The sentence means 'I smell the fragrance of flowers.'
Which of these means 'to smell a bad odor'?
“闻到” means 'to smell'. “臭味” means 'bad odor'. So, “闻到臭味” means 'to smell a bad odor'.
The sentence '你闻到什么了吗？' means:
“闻到” means 'to smell'. So, “你闻到什么了吗？” means 'Did you smell anything?'.
“我闻到咖啡的味道。” means 'I see the taste of coffee.'
“闻到” means 'to smell', not 'to see'. The sentence means 'I smell the smell of coffee.'
If you say '我闻到饭菜很香。', it means you think the food smells good.
“闻到” means 'to smell' and “很香” means 'very fragrant' or 'smells good'. So, the sentence means 'I smell the food is very fragrant.'
You can use “闻到” to talk about hearing a sound.
“闻到” specifically refers to the sense of smell. To talk about hearing a sound, you would use “听到”.
A person smells a flower.
Someone is asking what smell you detect.
A man smells coffee.
Read this aloud:
我闻到食物的香味。
Focus: wén dào
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
你闻到烤面包了吗？
Focus: kǎo miànbāo
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
她闻到一股奇怪的味道。
Focus: wén dào yī gǔ
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
You are in a park and you smell beautiful flowers. How would you describe this using '闻到'?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我闻到公园里花的香味。
You just cooked a delicious meal. How would you say that you can smell the food?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我闻到饭的香味了。
Imagine you are near a bakery and you smell fresh bread. Write a sentence about this.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我闻到面包的香味了。
小狗闻到了什么？
Read this passage:
小狗在花园里玩。它突然闻到了一种特别的味道。那是一种花的香味。
小狗闻到了什么？
文章中明确提到小狗闻到了花的香味。
文章中明确提到小狗闻到了花的香味。
我为什么觉得饿？
Read this passage:
妈妈在厨房做饭。我闻到了饭菜的香味，我觉得很饿。
我为什么觉得饿？
文章中直接说明是因为闻到了饭菜的香味。
文章中直接说明是因为闻到了饭菜的香味。
我闻到了什么味道？
Read this passage:
早上，我走在街上。我闻到了一股咖啡的香味，原来是路边的咖啡店开门了。
我闻到了什么味道？
文章中明确提到闻到了咖啡的香味。
文章中明确提到闻到了咖啡的香味。
The correct order is 'subject + 闻到 + object + 了'.
This is a question asking if someone smelled something. The structure is 'subject + 闻到 + object + 了 + 吗'.
The correct order is 'subject + 闻到 + object'. '饭菜的味道' means 'the smell of food'.
我 ___ 咖啡的味道。
You use 闻到 (wén dào) when you perceive a smell.
她 ___ 花香。
花香 (huā xiāng) means 'fragrance of flowers', so 闻到 (wén dào) is the correct verb.
你 ___ 什么味道？
This sentence asks what smell you perceive, so 闻到 (wén dào) is appropriate.
我 ___ 饭菜的香味。
饭菜的香味 (fàn cài de xiāng wèi) means 'the aroma of food', which you perceive with your nose.
房间里有很奇怪的味儿，我 ___ 了。
味儿 (wèir) means 'smell/odor', so 闻到了 (wén dào le) is the correct verb for perceiving it.
一进门，我就 ___ 蛋糕的味道。
蛋糕的味道 (dàn gāo de wèi dào) means 'the smell of cake'. When you enter a place and immediately perceive a smell, 闻到 (wén dào) is the correct word.
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: 我____花香。
The sentence is about smelling the fragrance of flowers, so '闻到' (to smell) is the correct choice.
Which sentence correctly uses '闻到'?
'闻到' is used for smelling scents or odors. The other options describe actions that don't involve smelling.
When you walk into a bakery, what do you usually '闻到'?
A bakery is known for the aroma of freshly baked goods.
你可以用 '闻到' 来描述你听到的声音。
'闻到' is for smelling, not hearing. For hearing, you would use '听到'.
如果你说 '我闻到花香'，意思是闻到了花的香味。
'闻到花香' literally means 'to smell the fragrance of flowers'.
'闻到' 可以用来表达看到一个东西。
'闻到' means 'to smell'. To express seeing something, you would use '看到'.
I smell a flower fragrance.
Did you smell anything?
He didn't smell the food.
Read this aloud:
我闻到咖啡味了。
Focus: wén dào
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
她闻到一股奇怪的味道。
Focus: wén dào
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
你闻到烟味了吗？
Focus: wén dào
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
You are at a friend's house and smell something delicious. Write a short sentence expressing that you smell something good. (用中文写一个句子)
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我闻到很香的味道。
Describe a situation where you would use your sense of smell. For example, 'I smell the flowers.' (用中文写一个句子)
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我闻到花园里的花很香。
Imagine you are cooking and you smell the food. Write a sentence saying 'I smell the food.' (用中文写一个句子)
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我闻到饭菜的味道。
小狗为什么跑过去？ (Xiǎo gǒu wèishénme pǎo guòqù?)
Read this passage:
小狗闻到肉的味道，它很高兴地跑过去。 (Xiǎo gǒu wéndào ròu de wèidào, tā hěn gāoxìng de pǎo guòqù.)
小狗为什么跑过去？ (Xiǎo gǒu wèishénme pǎo guòqù?)
Passage says '小狗闻到肉的味道', meaning the dog smelled the meat.
Passage says '小狗闻到肉的味道', meaning the dog smelled the meat.
妈妈闻到了什么？ (Māmā wéndào le shénme?)
Read this passage:
妈妈说：'我闻到咖啡的香味了，是不是你做的？' 儿子说：'是的，我做了咖啡。' (Māmā shuō: 'Wǒ wéndào kāfēi de xiāngwèi le, shì bù shì nǐ zuò de?' Érzi shuō: 'Shì de, wǒ zuò le kāfēi.')
妈妈闻到了什么？ (Māmā wéndào le shénme?)
The mother explicitly states '我闻到咖啡的香味了'.
The mother explicitly states '我闻到咖啡的香味了'.
说话人闻到了什么味道？ (Shuōhuà rén wéndào le shénme wèidào?)
Read this passage:
外面下雨了，我闻到了一股泥土的味道。 (Wàimiàn xiàyǔ le, wǒ wéndào le yī gǔ nítǔ de wèidào.)
说话人闻到了什么味道？ (Shuōhuà rén wéndào le shénme wèidào?)
The sentence clearly states '我闻到了一股泥土的味道'.
The sentence clearly states '我闻到了一股泥土的味道'.
The correct order is 'Subject + 闻到 + Object + 了'. '我' is the subject, '闻到' is the verb, '香水味' is the object, and '了' indicates completion.
This is a question asking if someone smelled anything. '你' is the subject, '闻到' is the verb, '什么' is the object (in a question), and '了' with '吗' forms a past tense question.
The structure is 'Subject + 闻到 + (quantifier) + adjective + 的 + noun'. '他' is the subject, '闻到' is the verb, '一股' is the quantifier, '奇怪的' describes the '味道' (smell).
我从厨房___一股烤蛋糕的香味。
To smell a scent, the correct verb is '闻到'. '听到' means to hear, '看到' means to see, and '尝到' means to taste.
她一走进房间，就___了一股淡淡的花香。
To detect a scent, '闻到' is the appropriate verb. '感觉到' means to feel, '发现到' means to discover, and '碰到' means to encounter.
你___什么味道了吗？好像有什么东西烧焦了。
When asking about detecting a smell, '闻到' is the correct choice. '听见' is to hear, '尝到' is to taste, and '看见' is to see.
小狗___了食物的味道，兴奋地摇着尾巴。
Dogs use their sense of smell to detect food, so '闻到' is the correct verb. '吃到' means to eat, which is different from smelling.
虽然离得很远，我还是___了那股浓烈的香水味。
To perceive a smell, even from a distance, '闻到' is the correct word. '摸到' is to touch, '看到' is to see, and '听到' is to hear.
我怀疑有人在煮咖喱，因为我___了它的香味。
To detect the scent of something cooking, '闻到' is the appropriate verb. '感觉到' means to feel, '尝到' means to taste, and '想到' means to think of.
她一进门就______饭菜的香味。
The sentence describes smelling the aroma of food. '闻到' means 'to smell'.
这个花瓶里的花散发出芬芳的气味，我能清楚地______。
The sentence talks about the fragrant smell of flowers. '闻到' is the correct verb for perceiving a smell.
你有没有______什么奇怪的味道？好像有什么东西烧焦了。
The context implies perceiving an unusual smell, specifically something burning. '闻到' is the appropriate verb.
如果你闻到烟味，说明附近可能着火了。
The act of smelling smoke (闻到烟味) is a common indicator of a fire.
我闻到了一股咖啡的香味，所以我知道有人在煮咖啡。
Smelling coffee (闻到咖啡的香味) is how one would detect if someone is brewing it.
她闻到了雨滴落在地面上的声音。
'闻到' is used for smelling, not hearing. You would '听到' (hear) the sound of raindrops.
You are in a park and you smell something delicious. Describe what you smell and what you think it is, using 闻到.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我在公园里散步，突然闻到一股很香的味道。我觉得可能是附近有人在烤肉，或者是花开了。
Write a short sentence about an unpleasant smell you encountered recently. Use 闻到.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
昨天我路过一个垃圾桶，闻到一股非常不好闻的味道。
Imagine you are describing your favorite food to a friend. How would you use 闻到 to talk about its aroma?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我最喜欢吃火锅了，每次闻到那个辣辣的香味，我就忍不住流口水。
小狗闻到了什么？
Read this passage:
小狗欢快地跑回家，一进门就闻到了饭菜的香味。它立刻冲向厨房，知道晚餐已经准备好了。它的尾巴摇个不停，对美食充满了期待。
小狗闻到了什么？
文章中明确提到“一进门就闻到了饭菜的香味”。
文章中明确提到“一进门就闻到了饭菜的香味”。
作者在森林里闻到了什么？
Read this passage:
在森林里散步时，我突然闻到一股潮湿的泥土味，还夹杂着淡淡的花香。这让我感到非常放松，仿佛所有的烦恼都消失了。
作者在森林里闻到了什么？
文中提到“我突然闻到一股潮湿的泥土味，还夹杂着淡淡的花香”。
文中提到“我突然闻到一股潮湿的泥土味，还夹杂着淡淡的花香”。
根据这段话，你认为闻到甜甜的香气意味着什么？
Read this passage:
妈妈正在烘焙饼干，整个屋子都弥漫着甜甜的香气。我从外面一回来，还没进门就闻到了这种诱人的味道，真是太棒了！
根据这段话，你认为闻到甜甜的香气意味着什么？
文章开头就说“妈妈正在烘焙饼干”，因此闻到甜甜的香气就是饼干的味道。
文章开头就说“妈妈正在烘焙饼干”，因此闻到甜甜的香气就是饼干的味道。
This sentence means 'I smelled a strange odor.' The structure is Subject + 闻到 (verb) + 了 (particle) + Object.
This sentence translates to 'Did you smell the aroma of coffee?' The question particle '了吗' is used at the end.
This sentence means 'As soon as she entered the room, she smelled the fragrance of flowers.' The '一...就...' structure indicates 'as soon as... then...'.
她一走进厨房就___了一股香甜的味道。
The sentence describes sensing a sweet smell upon entering the kitchen. '闻到' (wéndào) means 'to smell' and fits the context perfectly.
你有没有___什么不寻常的气味？
The question asks if someone has sensed an unusual smell. '闻到' (wéndào) is the appropriate verb for 'to smell'.
从开着的窗户里，我___了雨后泥土的清新气息。
The sentence indicates smelling the fresh scent of soil after rain through an open window. '闻到' (wéndào) is used for perceiving smells.
他___了烧焦的味道，立刻检查了烤箱。
The sentence describes detecting a burnt smell and then checking the oven. '闻到' (wéndào) is the correct verb for smelling.
每次经过那家咖啡店，我都会___浓郁的咖啡香。
This sentence refers to smelling the rich aroma of coffee when passing by a coffee shop. '闻到' (wéndào) is the verb for smelling.
这个花瓶里的花已经枯萎了，所以你___不到香味了。
The sentence explains that because the flowers have withered, one cannot 'smell' their fragrance anymore. '闻到' (wéndào) is appropriate here.
Is there a smell?
What is the speaker smelling?
What kind of smell did he encounter upon entering?
Read this aloud:
你喜欢闻花香吗？
Focus: 闻 (wén), 花香 (huāxiāng)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
我闻到了咖啡的味道。
Focus: 闻到 (wéndào), 咖啡 (kāfēi)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
有没有闻到什么烧焦的味道？
Focus: 烧焦 (shāojiāo), 味道 (wèidào)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Describe a time you smelled something unpleasant but couldn't identify the source. What did it make you think or feel?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
昨天晚上，我闻到一股奇怪的味道，但是找了半天也闻不到味道是从哪里来的。这让我觉得有点不舒服，甚至担心是不是有什么东西坏了或者着火了。我一直在想，这到底是什么味道呢？
Imagine you are describing your favorite dish to a friend. How would you use "闻到" to highlight its aroma?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我最喜欢吃的是我妈妈做的红烧肉。每次她开始做饭的时候，我刚一进门就能闻到一股浓郁的肉香味。那个味道特别香，闻到就让人流口水，根本等不及要开饭。
You are walking in a park and suddenly smell something wonderful. Describe what you smelled and how it affected your mood.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
今天我在公园散步的时候，突然闻到一阵阵清新的花香。虽然我不知道是什么花，但是那种香气特别好闻，让我一下子觉得心情很好，所有的烦恼都好像不见了。
小明闻到什么味道？
Read this passage:
小明走进厨房，闻到了一股烧焦的味道。他赶紧跑到炉子旁边，发现锅里的菜已经烧糊了。他叹了口气，心想今晚的晚餐可能要重新做了。
小明闻到什么味道？
文章中明确提到“小明走进厨房，闻到了一股烧焦的味道”。
文章中明确提到“小明走进厨房，闻到了一股烧焦的味道”。
她闻到的味道让她有什么感受？
Read this passage:
在森林里，她闻到了泥土和树叶的芬芳。这种大自然的气息让她感到非常平静，忘记了城市的喧嚣。她深吸一口气，享受着这片刻的宁静。
她闻到的味道让她有什么感受？
文章中写道“这种大自然的气息让她感到非常平静”。
文章中写道“这种大自然的气息让她感到非常平静”。
为什么“我”总是忍不住想进去咖啡店？
Read this passage:
那个咖啡店总是很香。每次我从外面路过，都能闻到浓浓的咖啡味。闻到这股味道，我总是忍不住想进去点一杯咖啡。
为什么“我”总是忍不住想进去咖啡店？
文章中提到“每次我从外面路过，都能闻到浓浓的咖啡味。闻到这股味道，我总是忍不住想进去点一杯咖啡。”
文章中提到“每次我从外面路过，都能闻到浓浓的咖啡味。闻到这股味道，我总是忍不住想进去点一杯咖啡。”
This sentence describes someone smelling a strange odor. The particles '了' and '的' are essential for grammatical correctness.
This is a common question asking if someone smells coffee. '有没有' is used for a 'yes/no' question.
This sentence expresses smelling fresh flowers immediately upon entering a room. '一...就...' structure is used here.
她一进门就___了一股浓烈的香水味，有些不适。
Context requires a verb related to scent perception. '闻到' (to smell) is the correct choice. '听到' means to hear, '感到' means to feel, and '看到' means to see.
经过长途跋涉，我___了家里饭菜的香味，疲惫感顿时减轻。
The sentence describes smelling the aroma of food. '闻到' (to smell) fits this context perfectly. '尝到' means to taste, '摸到' means to touch, and '想到' means to think of.
消防员在浓烟中___了烧焦的味道，立刻判断火势不小。
The scenario involves detecting a burning smell in smoke. '闻到' (to smell) is the appropriate verb. '听到' is to hear, '摸到' is to touch, and '尝到' is to taste.
她抱怨说房间里总___一股霉味，需要好好通风。
The sentence describes detecting a musty smell in a room. '闻到' (to smell) is the correct verb for this sensory experience. '发出' means to emit, '带来' means to bring, and '放出' means to release.
这道菜看起来不错，但我___了不太对劲的气味，不敢下口。
The context implies detecting an unusual smell from food. '闻到' (to smell) is the most direct and accurate verb for this. '感觉到' means to feel, '察觉到' means to perceive or notice (more general), and '发现到' means to discover.
狗的嗅觉非常灵敏，能___微弱的气味。
This sentence refers to a dog's ability to detect faint smells. '闻到' (to smell) is the most fitting verb to describe this action. '捕捉到' means to capture, '寻找出' means to find out, and '分辨出' means to distinguish.
她一进门就______了一股浓烈的咖啡香。
这句话描述的是通过嗅觉感受到咖啡的香气，因此用'闻到'最合适。
这个花园里百花齐放，你______什么花最香？
问题是关于嗅觉体验的，所以'闻到'是正确的选择。
空气中弥漫着一股奇怪的味道，我______了什么东西烧焦了。
句意表示通过气味感知到有东西烧焦，因此'闻到'最为贴切。
如果你闻到烟味，说明附近可能发生了火灾。
烟味是火灾的常见征兆，通过'闻到'可以感知。
'闻到'通常用于描述通过耳朵感知声音。
'闻到'是指通过鼻子感知气味，而通过耳朵感知声音应该用'听到'。
当你闻到香水味时，意味着有人在你旁边喷了香水。
闻到香水味通常是因为香水在附近散发。
This sentence describes someone smelling a strange odor. The structure is Subject (他) + Verb (闻到) + Object (一股 奇怪的 味道).
This is a question asking if someone smells something burnt. The structure is Subject (你) + 有没有 (question particle) + Verb (闻到) + Object (什么 烧焦的 东西).
This sentence expresses that as soon as 'I' entered, 'I' smelled the aroma of food. '一...就...' is a common structure meaning 'as soon as...then...'.
她一走进厨房就___一股诱人的饭菜香。
The sentence describes smelling the aroma of food. 闻到 (wéndào) means 'to smell'.
我能___这束花散发出的淡淡清香。
The sentence is about perceiving the scent of flowers. 闻到 (wéndào) is the correct verb for smelling.
尽管距离很远，他还是能___空气中弥漫的烟火味。
The sentence discusses smelling the scent of fireworks from a distance. 闻到 (wéndào) fits the context of smelling.
我刚从外面回来，就___家里飘来一阵熟悉的香味。
The sentence implies smelling a familiar aroma upon returning home. 闻到 (wéndào) means 'to smell'.
侦探仔细地嗅了嗅，希望能___任何残留的气味。
The sentence describes a detective trying to smell for residual odors. 闻到 (wéndào) is the appropriate verb.
他闭上眼睛，努力地___大自然的气息。
The sentence refers to smelling the scent of nature. 闻到 (wéndào) is the correct choice here.
Choose the most appropriate word to complete the sentence: 他一进屋就_______了一股奇怪的味道。
The sentence talks about a 'strange smell' (奇怪的味道), so '闻到' (to smell) is the correct verb. '看到' means to see, '听到' means to hear, and '尝到' means to taste.
Which of the following sentences correctly uses '闻到'?
'闻到' is used for smelling. '花香' (fragrance of flowers) is something you smell. The other options describe hearing music, seeing scenery, or receiving news, which require different verbs.
Select the sentence where '闻到' is used to imply detecting a subtle scent.
'淡淡的烟味' (a faint smell of smoke) implies a subtle scent, which aligns with the nuance of detecting something discreetly with '闻到'. The other options describe strong or more obvious smells.
你可以用“闻到”来描述你听到的声音。
“闻到” specifically refers to the sense of smell. To describe hearing a sound, you would use verbs like “听到” (tīng dào).
“闻到”通常表示对某种气味的感知。
Correct. “闻到” means to perceive or detect a smell. It's directly related to the sense of smell.
当你想要表达“尝到了甜头”时，可以使用“闻到甜头”。
“尝到甜头” (cháng dào tiántou) means to taste the sweetness, or to get a benefit/reward. “闻到甜头” is not a correct or commonly used expression in this context. “闻到” is for smells, not metaphorical 'tastes' or benefits.
What did you smell? Something seems to be burning.
As soon as I entered the kitchen, I smelled a fragrance. It turned out Mom was baking a cake.
He sensed danger and decided to leave immediately.
Read this aloud:
你能闻到春天花朵的芬芳吗？
Focus: 芬芳 (fēnfāng)
You said:
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Read this aloud:
她一闻到汽油味就觉得不舒服。
Focus: 汽油味 (qìyóuwèi)
You said:
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Read this aloud:
你闻到空气中弥漫的咖啡香了吗？
Focus: 弥漫 (mímàn)
You said:
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/ 144 correct
Perfect score!
Basic Meaning of Wén dào
闻到 (wén dào) literally means 'to smell' something. It's used when your nose actively perceives an odor.
Using with Scents
You'll often use 闻到 with nouns referring to scents, like 花香 (huāxiāng - flower scent) or 咖啡味 (kāfēiwèi - coffee smell).
Resultative Complement
The 到 in 闻到 is a resultative complement, indicating the successful completion of the action (smelling). You did smell it.
Don't confuse with 闻
闻 (wén) alone means 'to sniff' or 'to smell' (the action). 闻到 means 'to have smelled' (the result). For example, 你闻什么？ (Nǐ wén shénme? - What are you sniffing?) vs. 我闻到咖啡味了。(Wǒ wén dào kāfēiwèi le. - I smelled coffee.)
Example
我闻到了咖啡的香味。
