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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing 'to smell' with 闻到 (wéndào)

    Actions & Events

    Structure

    闻到 + Object + 的 + 味道

    Explanation

    The verb 闻到 (wéndào) means "to smell" or "to perceive by smell," indicating that one has detected an odor. The complement 到 after 闻 marks the successful result of the smelling action. For example, 能闻到花的味道 means "can smell the fragrance of flowers."

    Examples

    • 我一进门就闻到了饭菜的香味。

      Wǒ yì jìn mén jiù wéndào le fàncài de xiāngwèi.

      As soon as I walked in the door, I smelled the aroma of food.

    • 你有没有闻到什么烧焦的味道？

      Nǐ yǒu méiyǒu wéndào shénme shāojiāo de wèidào?

      Do you smell something burning?

    • 走在花园里，到处都能闻到花香。

      Zǒu zài huāyuán lǐ, dàochù dōu néng wéndào huāxiāng.

      Walking through the garden, you can smell the fragrance of flowers everywhere.

    Expressing 'to smell' with 闻到 (wéndào) | Chinese Grammar