香水

• Pinyin: xiāng shuǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 香 = 禾 + 日 (grain in sun — fragrant); 水 = three droplets (water/liquid)

Meaning

Perfume; cologne; a fragrant liquid applied to the body or clothing.

The generic term for all scented personal fragrances, from light eau de cologne to concentrated parfum. China's domestic fragrance industry has grown rapidly alongside Western luxury brands. Gifting perfume carries specific cultural connotations of elegance and refinement.

Examples

1. 她每天出门前都会喷上一款淡雅的香水，让人感到清新舒适，印象深刻。 Before going out each day, she sprays on a light, elegant perfume that feels fresh and comfortable and leaves a strong impression.
2. 这瓶限量版香水由知名调香师精心调制，售价高昂，备受收藏爱好者追捧。 This limited-edition perfume was carefully composed by a well-known perfumer; it’s expensive and highly sought after by collectors.
3. 在欧洲，香水被视为个人风格的重要组成部分，有着数百年深厚的文化传统。 In Europe, perfume is seen as an important part of personal style and has a deep cultural tradition spanning centuries.

Usage Guide

Context: lifestyle, fashion, gifting, culture

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 送给她一瓶高档香水作为生日礼物，既体面又能体现用心。(Giving her a bottle of high-end perfume as a birthday gift is both respectable and thoughtful.)
• 他偏爱木质调香水，认为这类香型更能彰显成熟稳重的气质。(He favours woody fragrances, believing this type of scent better conveys a mature and composed character.)

Don't Say

• 我喝了香水 — 香水 is applied externally, not consumed; say 我喷了香水 (I sprayed on perfume) to describe use correctly

Origin & History

香 (fragrant) + 水 (water/liquid) — fragrant water

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal