xiāngshuǐ: 香水 - Perfume, Fragrance, Scent

• Keywords: xiangshui meaning, xiangshui Chinese, Chinese word for perfume, 香水 meaning, how to say perfume in Chinese, fragrance in Chinese, 香水 pinyin, Chinese culture perfume, buy perfume in China
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 香水 (xiāngshuǐ), the primary Chinese word for perfume and fragrance. This guide breaks down the characters 香 (fragrant) and 水 (water), explores its cultural significance as a modern status symbol in China, and provides over 10 practical example sentences. Learn the correct verbs to use (like 喷, pēn - to spray) and avoid common mistakes English speakers make when talking about perfume in Mandarin.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xiāngshuǐ
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: A scented liquid applied to the body to give it a pleasant smell.
• In a Nutshell: 香水 (xiāngshuǐ) is the direct and universal word for “perfume” in Mandarin Chinese. The term is wonderfully intuitive, literally translating to “fragrant water.” It's a modern, everyday noun that covers all types of bottled fragrances, from high-end international brands to more affordable body mists.

• 香 (xiāng): This character means “fragrant,” “aromatic,” or “scented.” It's composed of 禾 (hé - grain) and 日 (rì - sun). One way to remember it is to imagine the pleasant, sweet smell of grain drying in the sun.
• 水 (shuǐ): This is one of the simplest and most fundamental characters. It means “water” and is a pictograph representing a flowing river.

The two characters combine in a very logical way: 香 (fragrant) + 水 (water) = 香水 (perfume). This literal construction makes it one of the easier vocabulary words for beginners to learn and remember.

Historically, fragrance in China was not associated with alcohol-based liquid perfume. Instead, it centered on incense (香), scented sachets (香囊, xiāngnáng), and aromatic woods. The appreciation of scent was often subtle, natural, and integrated into one's environment rather than being worn prominently on the body. The Western-style liquid 香水 (xiāngshuǐ) is a relatively modern import, gaining widespread popularity along with China's economic development and exposure to global culture. For many, especially younger, urban Chinese, 香水 is not tied to ancient traditions but is a symbol of:

• Modernity and Sophistication: Using international perfume brands is seen as fashionable, cosmopolitan, and a sign of personal taste.
• Individual Expression: In a society that has traditionally emphasized collectivism, choosing a personal scent is a form of individual expression and identity-building.
• Gifting Culture: 香水 is a very popular and respectable gift for occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, and especially Valentine's Day (情人节). It's considered a personal and somewhat luxurious item.

Compared to Western cultures where perfume has been a mainstream personal cosmetic for centuries, in China it represents a rapidly growing consumer market and a shift in personal grooming habits over the last few decades.

香水 (xiāngshuǐ) is a common noun used in everyday conversation, shopping, and social media.

• In Conversation: People might ask what perfume you're wearing or comment on a scent they like. The focus is often on the brand (品牌, pǐnpái) and the type of scent (e.g., floral, woody).
• Shopping: Buying 香水 is a common activity, both for oneself and as a gift. You will see dedicated counters in every major department store. Sales assistants will often ask if you prefer a lighter scent (淡一点, dàn yīdiǎn) or a stronger one (浓一点, nóng yīdiǎn).
• Social Media: Platforms like 小红书 (xiǎohóngshū, “Little Red Book”) and 微博 (Wēibó) are filled with perfume reviews, recommendations (“种草”, zhòngcǎo), and discussions about niche fragrances.

The connotation is almost always neutral to positive, associated with good taste, romance, and self-care.

• Example 1:
  • 我今天喷了一点香水。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ jīntiān pēnle yīdiǎn xiāngshuǐ.
  • English: I sprayed a little perfume on today.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the verb 喷 (pēn), which means “to spray.” This is the most common verb used for applying perfume.
• Example 2:
  • 这款香水的味道很好闻。
  • Pinyin: Zhè kuǎn xiāngshuǐ de wèidào hěn hǎowén.
  • English: This perfume's scent smells very nice.
  • Analysis: 款 (kuǎn) is a measure word for styles or models of products. 味道 (wèidào) means “smell” or “scent,” and 好闻 (hǎowén) literally means “good to smell.”
• Example 3:
  • 你用的什么牌子的香水？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ yòng de shénme páizi de xiāngshuǐ?
  • English: What brand of perfume are you using?
  • Analysis: A very common and natural question. 用 (yòng) means “to use,” and 牌子 (páizi) means “brand.”
• Example 4:
  • 他送给我一瓶法国香水作为生日礼物。
  • Pinyin: Tā sòng gěi wǒ yī píng Fǎguó xiāngshuǐ zuòwéi shēngrì lǐwù.
  • English: He gave me a bottle of French perfume as a birthday gift.
  • Analysis: This highlights the use of 香水 in the context of gifting. The measure word for perfume is 瓶 (píng), meaning “bottle.”
• Example 5:
  • 我不喜欢味道太浓的香水。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bù xǐhuān wèidào tài nóng de xiāngshuǐ.
  • English: I don't like perfume that smells too strong.
  • Analysis: 浓 (nóng) means “strong” or “concentrated,” often used to describe scents, flavors, or colors. The opposite is 淡 (dàn), “light.”
• Example 6:
  • 她身上的香水味太重了，让我有点头晕。
  • Pinyin: Tā shēnshang de xiāngshuǐ wèi tài zhòng le, ràng wǒ yǒudiǎn tóuyūn.
  • English: The perfume smell on her is too heavy; it makes me a little dizzy.
  • Analysis: Here, 香水味 (xiāngshuǐ wèi) specifically means “perfume smell.” 重 (zhòng) means “heavy” and is another way to say a scent is overpowering.
• Example 7:
  • 这瓶香水是限量版的，很难买到。
  • Pinyin: Zhè píng xiāngshuǐ shì xiànliàng bǎn de, hěn nán mǎi dào.
  • English: This bottle of perfume is a limited edition, it's very hard to buy.
  • Analysis: Shows how perfume is discussed as a luxury or collectible item. 限量版 (xiànliàng bǎn) is “limited edition.”
• Example 8:
  • 我想买一瓶男士香水送给爸爸。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yī píng nánshì xiāngshuǐ sòng gěi bàba.
  • English: I want to buy a bottle of men's perfume for my dad.
  • Analysis: Shows how to specify the type. 男士 (nánshì) means “men's” or “gentlemen's.” For women's, you would use 女士 (nǚshì).
• Example 9:
  • 免税店的香水比商场里便宜很多。
  • Pinyin: Miǎnshuìdiàn de xiāngshuǐ bǐ shāngchǎng lǐ piányí hěnduō.
  • English: The perfume at the duty-free shop is much cheaper than in the mall.
  • Analysis: A practical sentence related to travel and shopping. 免税店 (miǎnshuìdiàn) is “duty-free shop.”
• Example 10:
  • 你能帮我推荐一款适合夏天的香水吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ néng bāng wǒ tuījiàn yī kuǎn shìhé xiàtiān de xiāngshuǐ ma?
  • English: Can you recommend a perfume that's suitable for summer?
  • Analysis: 推荐 (tuījiàn) means “to recommend.” This is a useful phrase for shopping.

• Don't “Wear” Perfume: This is the most common mistake for English speakers. In English, we “wear” perfume. In Chinese, you cannot use the verb 穿 (chuān), which is reserved for clothes, shoes, and socks.
  • Correct: 我喷了香水 (Wǒ pēn le xiāngshuǐ.) - “I sprayed perfume.”
  • Correct: 我用了香水 (Wǒ yòng le xiāngshuǐ.) - “I used perfume.”
  • Incorrect: 我穿了香水 (Wǒ chuān le xiāngshuǐ.)
• 香 (xiāng) vs. 香水 (xiāngshuǐ): While related, they are not interchangeable. 香 (xiāng) is primarily an adjective meaning “fragrant.” 香水 (xiāngshuǐ) is the noun for the product “perfume.” You can say “这个味道很香” (This smell is very fragrant), but you cannot say “我买了一个香” (I bought a fragrant).
• 香味 (xiāngwèi) vs. 香水 (xiāngshuǐ): 香水 (xiāngshuǐ) is the liquid product in the bottle. 香味 (xiāngwèi) is the “scent” or “aroma” itself that you smell.
  • Example: 这瓶香水 (this bottle of perfume) 的香味 (scent) 我很喜欢。

• 香味 (xiāngwèi) - Scent, aroma, fragrance. The actual smell produced by something, not the product itself.
• 古龙水 (gǔlóngshuǐ) - Cologne. A phonetic borrowing from “Eau de Cologne.” Refers specifically to men's fragrance.
• 喷 (pēn) - To spray. The correct verb for applying perfume from a bottle with an atomizer.
• 用 (yòng) - To use. A general verb that also works for applying perfume.
• 化妆品 (huàzhuāngpǐn) - Cosmetics. The broader category that 香水 belongs to.
• 品牌 (pǐnpái) - Brand. Essential for talking about different kinds of perfume (e.g., 香奈儿品牌 - Chanel brand).
• 礼物 (lǐwù) - Gift, present. A very common context for 香水.
• 香氛 (xiāngfēn) - Fragrance, aroma. A more formal, literary, or marketing term for scent, often used for home fragrances like diffusers or candles.
• 香皂 (xiāngzào) - Scented soap (fragrant + soap). Shows another common use of the character 香.
• 口红 (kǒuhóng) - Lipstick. Another common cosmetic item and popular gift, often discussed alongside perfume.