咸 (xián) — salty
HSK 4 | adjective | having the taste of salt
咸 (xián)
咸 describes food or liquid that contains a noticeable amount of salt. It is one of the five core tastes in Chinese culinary vocabulary and is the opposite of 淡 (dàn, bland/mild).
Meanings
- adjective salty (having the taste characteristic of salt)
Example Sentences
这道汤太咸了，能加点水吗？ Zhè dào tāng tài xián le, néng jiā diǎn shuǐ ma? This soup is too salty. Can you add some water?
沿海地区的菜口味偏咸。 Yán hǎi dìqū de cài kǒuwèi piān xián. Dishes from coastal regions tend to be on the salty side.
咸鱼是中国传统的保存食品之一。 Xián yú shì Zhōngguó chuántǒng de bǎocún shípǐn zhī yī. Salted fish is one of China's traditional preserved foods.
我喜欢咸的零食多过甜的。 Wǒ xǐhuān xián de língshí duō guò tián de. I prefer salty snacks over sweet ones.
Collocations
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 口味偏咸 (kǒuwèi piān xián) | taste on the salty side |
| 咸鱼 (xián yú) | salted fish |
| 咸淡适中 (xián dàn shìzhōng) | just the right saltiness |
| 过咸 (guò xián) | too salty |
Usage Notes
咸 specifically refers to the salty taste caused by sodium chloride. Its opposite for seasoning is 淡 (dàn, bland or mild). When describing how salty something is, Chinese speakers often use intensifiers like 太咸 (too salty) or 有点咸 (a bit salty).
Memory Hook
The character 咸 features 口 (kǒu, mouth) at its base, reminding you that this is a taste your mouth perceives — the salty sensation when salt touches your tongue.