香料

• Pinyin: xiāng liào
• Hanzi breakdown: 香 = 禾 + 日 (grain ripening in the sun — giving off fragrance); 料 = 米 + 斗 (grain measured out — ingredient)

Meaning

Spice; aromatic or fragrant substance; fragrant material used in cooking, medicine, or perfumery.

Encompasses both culinary spices used in cooking and aromatic substances used in cosmetics, incense, and traditional medicine. China's ancient spice trade via the Silk Road connected East Asia with the Mediterranean world for centuries.

Examples

1. 中国古代通过丝绸之路将珍贵的香料运往欧洲，极大地推动了东西方的贸易往来。 In ancient China, precious spices were shipped to Europe along the Silk Road, greatly promoting trade between East and West.
2. 这道菜加入了多种天然香料，味道层次丰富，令人回味无穷。 This dish uses a variety of natural spices, creating rich layers of flavor that linger on the palate.
3. 调配高端香水时，香料的选择与比例至关重要，直接影响成品的气味质量。 When blending high-end perfume, the selection and proportions of aromatic ingredients are crucial and directly affect the quality of the final scent.

Usage Guide

Context: cooking, history, trade, medicine, perfumery

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 该地区盛产丁香、豆蔻等珍稀香料，历来是国际香料贸易的重要产地。(This region is rich in rare spices such as cloves and nutmeg, and has long been an important origin in the international spice trade.)
• 传统中药方剂中常含有多种具有药效的香料，兼具芳香与治疗双重功效。(Traditional Chinese medicine formulas often contain various medicinally active spices that serve both aromatic and therapeutic functions.)

Don't Say

• 香料的味道很香 — redundant; say 这种香料气味浓郁 or specify the spice type for precision

Origin & History

香 (fragrant) + 料 (material/ingredient) — fragrant ingredient

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient to Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal