chòuwèi: 臭味 - Bad Smell, Stink, Foul Odor

• Keywords: chouwei, 臭味, bad smell in Chinese, stink Chinese, what does chouwei mean, Chinese for odor, foul odor, chouwei xiangtong, 臭味相投, taste in Chinese, bad taste
• Summary: Learn the Chinese word for a bad smell, 臭味 (chòuwèi). This guide breaks down its literal meaning of “stink” or “foul odor” and explores its crucial, and often humorous, figurative use in the popular idiom 臭味相投 (chòuwèi xiāngtóu), which describes people who get along due to shared bad habits or tastes. Understand how to complain about a stink and how to joke with friends using this versatile term.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): chòuwèi
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: A foul odor, a bad smell, a stink.
• In a Nutshell: At its core, 臭味 (chòuwèi) is the word you use when something smells bad. Think of the smell of garbage, spoiled food, or unwashed clothes—that's 臭味. However, its meaning expands into the figurative realm to describe a “bad taste” or shared negative qualities, making it a culturally rich and interesting term.

• 臭 (chòu): This character is a combination of 自 (zì), a pictograph of a nose, and 犬 (quǎn), meaning dog. You can remember it as the “smell of a dog,” which is a simple way to associate it with something potentially stinky or strong-smelling. By itself, it means “stinky” or “foul.”
• 味 (wèi): This character combines 口 (kǒu), meaning “mouth,” with 未 (wèi) for the sound. It means “taste,” “flavor,” or “smell.” It's the general character for sensory experiences related to taste and scent.
• When combined, 臭味 (chòuwèi) literally translates to “stinky smell”—a very direct and unambiguous term for any unpleasant odor.

The true cultural depth of 臭味 (chòuwèi) comes from the idiom 臭味相投 (chòuwèi xiāngtóu). Literally “bad smells mutually agree,” it's the Chinese equivalent of “birds of a feather flock together,” but with a crucial negative or self-deprecating spin. In Western culture, saying two people are “kindred spirits” or “two peas in a pod” is almost always a compliment. However, describing people as 臭味相投 implies they bond over a shared flaw, a bad habit, or a socially unacceptable interest. For example, two coworkers who love to gossip might be described this way. This reflects a cultural awareness of social harmony and “correct” behavior. While the idiom is negative when describing others (e.g., corrupt officials), it can be used humorously and affectionately between close friends to poke fun at their shared “vices,” like playing video games all night or having a bizarre sense of humor. It’s a way of saying, “We're partners in crime,” with a knowing wink.

1. Literal Usage (Complaining about a smell): This is the most common, everyday use of the word. It's direct, informal, and used in any situation where something smells bad.

• You might say it when you walk past a dumpster: “好大的臭味！” (Hǎo dà de chòuwèi! - What a strong stink!).
• You might use it to describe food that has gone bad: “牛奶好像有臭味了。” (Niúnǎi hǎoxiàng yǒu chòuwèi le. - The milk seems to have a bad smell.)

2. Figurative Usage (The Idiom 臭味相投): This is used to describe people who get along because of shared negative traits.

• Derogatory: “那两个骗子整天在一起，真是臭味相投。” (Nà liǎng gè piànzi zhěngtiān zài yīqǐ, zhēnshi chòuwèi xiāngtóu. - Those two scammers are always together; birds of a feather really do flock together.)
• Self-deprecating/Joking: You and a friend both love terrible action movies. You could say: “哈哈，我们俩真是臭味相投！” (Hāhā, wǒmen liǎ zhēnshi chòuwèi xiāngtóu! - Haha, we two are really partners in crime!). This usage builds camaraderie through shared, quirky “flaws.”

• Example 1:
  • 垃圾桶传来一阵臭味。
  • Pinyin: Lājītǒng chuánlái yīzhèn chòuwèi.
  • English: A wave of bad smell came from the garbage can.
  • Analysis: A simple, literal use of the word. 一阵 (yīzhèn) is a measure word for a gust or wave of smell.
• Example 2:
  • 你快去洗澡吧，你身上的臭味太重了！
  • Pinyin: Nǐ kuài qù xǐzǎo ba, nǐ shēnshang de chòuwèi tài zhòng le!
  • English: Go take a shower, the bad smell on you is too strong!
  • Analysis: A very direct and informal way to tell someone they stink. Here, 重 (zhòng - heavy) is used to mean “strong” when describing smells or flavors.
• Example 3:
  • 这间屋子很久没人住了，有一股发霉的臭味。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiān wūzi hěnjiǔ méi rén zhù le, yǒuyī gǔ fāméi de chòuwèi.
  • English: This room hasn't been lived in for a long time; it has a musty, foul odor.
  • Analysis: The measure word 股 (gǔ) is often used for smells. 发霉的 (fāméi de) specifies the type of bad smell—musty.
• Example 4:
  • 我虽然不喜欢臭豆腐的臭味，但我很爱吃它的味道。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ suīrán bù xǐhuān chòu dòufu de chòuwèi, dàn wǒ hěn ài chī tā de wèidào.
  • English: Although I don't like the stink of stinky tofu, I love its taste.
  • Analysis: This sentence perfectly highlights the difference between a bad smell (臭味) and a (good) flavor (味道, wèidào).
• Example 5:
  • 他和他最好的朋友都喜欢捉弄人，可以说是臭味相投。
  • Pinyin: Tā hé tā zuì hǎo de péngyǒu dōu xǐhuān zhuōnòng rén, kěyǐ shuō shì chòuwèi xiāngtóu.
  • English: He and his best friend both love to play pranks on people; you could say they are two of a kind.
  • Analysis: This is a classic figurative use of the idiom, describing a bond over a mischievous (and slightly negative) habit.
• Example 6:
  • 为了消除冰箱里的臭味，我放了一块柠檬。
  • Pinyin: Wèile xiāochú bīngxiāng lǐ de chòuwèi, wǒ fàngle yīkuài níngméng.
  • English: In order to eliminate the bad smell in the fridge, I put in a lemon.
  • Analysis: 消除 (xiāochú) means “to eliminate” or “to get rid of,” a common verb used with 臭味.
• Example 7:
  • 我们俩都爱熬夜打游戏，真是臭味相投啊！
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen liǎ dōu ài áoyè dǎ yóuxì, zhēnshi chòuwèi xiāngtóu a!
  • English: We both love staying up all night playing games, we're really partners in crime!
  • Analysis: A perfect example of the self-deprecating, friendly use of the idiom between friends.
• Example 8:
  • 空气中弥漫着化学品的臭味，让人恶心。
  • Pinyin: Kōngqì zhòng mímànzhe huàxuépǐn de chòuwèi, ràng rén ěxīn.
  • English: The air was filled with the foul odor of chemicals, which was nauseating.
  • Analysis: 弥漫 (mímàn) is a more literary word for “to pervade” or “fill the air.” 恶心 (ěxīn) means nauseating or disgusting.
• Example 9:
  • 别把你的臭袜子放在这儿，一股臭味！
  • Pinyin: Bié bǎ nǐ de chòu wàzi fàng zài zhèr, yī gǔ chòuwèi!
  • English: Don't put your stinky socks here, what a bad smell!
  • Analysis: A common, real-life complaint. Here, the noun 臭味 is used almost like an exclamation.
• Example 10:
  • 这群腐败的官员狼狈为奸，臭味相投。
  • Pinyin: Zhè qún fǔbài de guānyuán lángbèiwéijiān, chòuwèi xiāngtóu.
  • English: This group of corrupt officials colludes with each other, birds of a feather flock together.
  • Analysis: A very strong, negative, and formal use of the idiom. 狼狈为奸 (lángbèiwéijiān) is another idiom meaning “to act in collusion.”

• Mistake 1: Using `臭味相投` as a pure compliment.
  • A learner might think `臭味相投` just means “we have similar tastes.” It doesn't. It specifically implies the shared tastes are bad, weird, or socially frowned upon. Never use it in a formal setting to compliment your boss (e.g., “我们对这个项目看法一样，真是臭味相投!”). This would be a huge mistake.
  • Correct: “我们对这个项目看法一致。” (Wǒmen duì zhège xiàngmù kànfǎ yīzhì. - Our views on this project are identical.)
• Mistake 2: Confusing `臭味 (chòuwèi)` with `味道 (wèidào)`.
  • `味道 (wèidào)` is a neutral word for “smell,” “odor,” or “flavor.” It can be good, bad, or neutral. `臭味 (chòuwèi)` is only for bad smells.
  • Incorrect: 这朵花有很好闻的臭味。 (This flower has a nice-smelling stink.)
  • Correct: 这朵花有很好闻的味道。 (Zhè duǒ huā yǒu hěn hǎowén de wèidào. - This flower has a very nice smell.) or “这朵花有香味 (xiāngwèi - fragrance).”
  • Correct: 这垃圾有臭味。 (Zhè lājī yǒu chòuwèi. - This garbage has a bad smell.)

• 臭味相投 (chòuwèi xiāngtóu) - The key idiom derived from the term, meaning “to get along due to shared bad habits.”
• 味道 (wèidào) - The neutral, general term for “smell” or “taste.” 臭味 is a specific type of 味道.
• 香味 (xiāngwèi) - The direct antonym of 臭味; a good smell, fragrance, or aroma.
• 气味 (qìwèi) - A general and slightly more formal term for “odor” or “scent,” can be neutral.
• 臭 (chòu) - The adjective form, meaning “stinky” or “foul.” (e.g., 臭袜子 - stinky socks).
• 难闻 (nánwén) - An adjective meaning “unpleasant to smell.” It describes the experience of smelling a 臭味.
• 狐臭 (húchòu) - A specific kind of bad smell: body odor (literally “fox stink”).
• 臭豆腐 (chòu dòufu) - Stinky tofu, the famous Chinese snack that exemplifies the concept of something having a 臭味 but a delicious taste.
• 腥味 (xīngwèi) - The specific “fishy” or raw meat smell.
• 酸臭 (suānchòu) - A sour, spoiled smell, often used for food waste or sweat.