[[Characters]] #Characters \ #Natural-World \ #Tastes # 臭 chòu smelly, stinky ## Components [[自 zì]] [[自 (zì)]] [[犬 (quǎn)]] [[犬 quǎn]] ## Meaning Today, the character 臭 (chòu) in modern Mandarin Chinese primarily means "smelly" or "stinky." It refers to unpleasant or foul odors. It is often used to describe bad smells or situations where something emits an offensive odor. Additionally, it can also be used figuratively to express disdain or disapproval towards something, similar to saying that something "stinks" in English. Overall, it signifies the presence of an unpleasant or offensive smell. ## History The character 臭 (chòu) evolved from the concept of a dog's keen sense of smell. Dogs can detect scents left behind by animals, helping track their movements. In ancient times, the character combined 自 (zì), representing the nose, with 犬 (quǎn), representing a dog. This composition indicated the dog's ability to detect odors, emphasizing the sense of smell. Originally, 臭 referred specifically to the act of smelling or sniffing odors. Over time, it came to represent the concept of odor itself. Ancient texts mention the significance of smell, associating it with perceptions and senses. For instance, in the book "Mencius," it's stated that just as the mouth is for taste, the eyes are for color, the ears are for sound, and the nose is for smell. In modern Mandarin, 臭 still retains its meaning of smell or odor, though it's more commonly written as 嗅 (xiù). It signifies the sense of smell and can also refer to unpleasant or foul smells. ## Evolution ### Oracular Script ![[臭 chòu - ora.svg]] ### Bronze Script ? ### Seal Script ![[臭 chòu - sello.svg]] ### Clerical Script ![[臭 chòu - cle.svg]] ### Regular Script ![[臭 chòu - reg.svg]]