浓

• Pinyin: nóng
• Hanzi breakdown: 浓 = 氵 (water) + 农 (farming/dense growth) — rich, thick liquid or substance

Meaning

Thick; dense; strong; concentrated. Describes something with high density or intensity, such as liquids, flavours, colours, or feelings.

A versatile adjective used across many domains: 浓茶 (strong tea), 浓雾 (dense fog), 浓烟 (thick smoke), 颜色很浓 (deep/rich colour), 兴趣很浓 (keen interest). The opposite is 淡 (light/diluted). In everyday life, commonly used when discussing food, drinks, weather, and emotional intensity.

Examples

1. 他喜欢喝浓茶，不喜欢太淡的。 He likes to drink strong tea and doesn't like it too weak.
2. 今天早上的雾很浓，开车要特别小心。 The fog was very thick this morning — you have to be especially careful driving.
3. 这道菜的味道很浓，放了不少调料。 This dish has a very rich flavour; quite a lot of seasoning was added.

Usage Guide

Context: food and drink, weather, description

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 这杯咖啡太浓了，加点水吧。(This coffee is too strong — add some water.)
• 她对中国文化有很浓的兴趣。(She has a keen interest in Chinese culture.)

Don't Say

• 浓的书 (Don't use 浓 to describe the thickness of solid objects like books — use 厚; 浓 is for density of liquids, flavours, colours, and abstract intensity)

Origin & History

The character 浓 combines 氵 (water radical) and 农 (farming/thick growth), evoking the richness and density of agricultural produce.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal