Definition

Noun: 1. Flavor; Taste: The combined sensory impression of a food or drink in the mouth, created by its taste (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami) and smell (aroma). 2. Aroma; Scent; Fragrance: A pleasant and distinctive smell, often from flowers, plants, or food. 3. Character; Essence; Flavor (figurative): The distinctive quality, feeling, or atmosphere of something, such as a place, time, or experience.

Usage Examples

• Flavor/Taste:
  • Hương vị của món phở này rất đặc biệt. (The flavor of this pho is very special.)
  • Cà phê này có hương vị đắng nhẹ. (This coffee has a slightly bitter taste.)
• Aroma/Fragrance:
  • Hương vị của hoa nhài lan tỏa trong không khí. (The fragrance of jasmine spreads in the air.)
• Character/Flavor (figurative):
  • Cô ấy muốn trải nghiệm hương vị cuộc sống ở nông thôn. (She wants to experience the flavor of life in the countryside.)
  • Bộ phim mang đậm hương vị Hà Nội xưa. (The film is imbued with the essence of old Hanoi.)

Advanced Usage

• "hương vị quê hương": the flavor/taste of one's homeland; often evokes nostalgia for traditional food or the feeling of home.
  • Bánh chưng bà làm luôn giữ trọn hương vị quê hương. (The sticky rice cake my grandmother makes always retains the true flavor of home.)
• "hương vị riêng": a distinctive character or unique flavor.
  • Mỗi nghệ sĩ đều tạo ra hương vị riêng cho tác phẩm của mình. (Every artist creates their own distinctive character in their work.)

Variants and Related Words

• Mùi vị (n): Often used interchangeably with "hương vị" to mean flavor or taste, though "mùi" can sometimes imply a neutral or even unpleasant smell.
• Hương thơm (n): Specifically refers to a pleasant aroma or fragrance.
• Vị (n): Specifically refers to taste (e.g., sweet, salty) or can mean "position."

Synonyms

• Flavor / Taste: The sensation produced by a substance in the mouth.
• Aroma / Fragrance / Scent: A distinctive, typically pleasant smell.
• Essence / Character: The intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something.

Related Idioms

• Đậm đà hương vị: Rich in flavor; deeply flavorful. Can be used literally for food or figuratively for experiences.
  • Câu chuyện anh kể đậm đà hương vị dân gian. (The story he told is rich in folk flavor.)

noun

1. aromatic flavour; taste