嗅觉

• Pinyin: xiù jué
• Hanzi breakdown: 嗅 = 口 + 臭 (to sniff/smell); 觉 = 学 + 见 (sense/perceive/awaken)

Meaning

The sense of smell; olfactory perception.

Used literally for the biological sense of smell and figuratively for an instinctive ability to detect or perceive something (e.g. business opportunities, danger, trends). The figurative use is common in professional contexts.

Examples

1. 猎犬拥有极为灵敏的嗅觉，能够在数百米外嗅出猎物或爆炸物的气息。 Bloodhounds have an exceptionally keen sense of smell and can detect the scent of prey or explosives from hundreds of meters away.
2. 长期吸烟会逐渐损害嗅觉，戒烟后嗅觉功能往往能在数周至数月内得到不同程度的恢复。 Long-term smoking gradually damages the sense of smell; after quitting, it often recovers to varying degrees over the course of weeks to months.
3. 优秀的投资人具备敏锐的市场嗅觉，能在大多数人尚未察觉之前发现潜在的投资机会。 Excellent investors have a sharp nose for the market and can spot potential opportunities before most people even notice.

Usage Guide

Context: biology, medicine, business, animal behaviour

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这位记者的新闻嗅觉极为灵敏，总能在第一时间发现并追踪到具有重大影响力的新闻线索。(This journalist has an exceptionally sharp news sense and always manages to detect and pursue high-impact story leads at the earliest opportunity.)
• 嗅觉丧失可能是某些神经系统疾病的早期症状，出现时应及时就医并进行相关检查。(Loss of smell may be an early symptom of certain neurological conditions; if this occurs, prompt medical consultation and relevant examinations are advised.)

Don't Say

• 用嗅觉看东西 — 嗅觉 is specifically olfactory; for vision use 视觉; senses must not be conflated; each sense has its dedicated term in formal Chinese

Origin & History

嗅 (to sniff/smell) + 觉 (sense/perception) — the sense organ and faculty of smelling

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal