Usage note
咸表示味道像盐。
xián biǎo shì wèi dào xiàng yán。
Salty means tasting like salt.
Context note
咸常用于食物和口味。
xián cháng yòng yú shí wù hé kǒu wèi。
Salty often appears with food and taste.
5 examples
这个菜太咸了。
zhè ge cài tài xián le。
This dish is too salty.
我喜欢咸味。
wǒ xǐ huan xián wèi。
I like salty flavor.
汤有点咸。
tāng yǒu diǎn xián。
The soup is a bit salty.
他不爱吃咸的。
tā bú ài chī xián de。
He does not like salty food.
咸菜很好吃。
xián cài hěn hǎo chī。
Pickles are tasty.
5 mini stories
妈妈说今天的菜有点咸。
mā ma shuō jīn tiān de cài yǒu diǎn xián。
Mom said today's food is a little salty.
这碗汤喝起来不咸。
zhè wǎn tāng hē qǐ lái bù xián。
This bowl of soup does not taste salty.
我喜欢咸饼干。
wǒ xǐ huan xián bǐng gān。
I like salty biscuits.
他觉得这个味道太咸。
tā jué de zhè ge wèi dào tài xián。
He thinks this taste is too salty.
饭菜咸一点也没关系。
fàn cài xián yì diǎn yě méi guān xì。
A little salty food is okay.
Mini dialogue
汤太咸了
A
妈妈，今天的汤有点咸。
Māma, jīntiān de tāng yǒudiǎn xián.
Mom, today's soup is a bit salty.
B
是吗？我下次少放一点盐。
Shì ma? Wǒ xià cì shǎo fàng yīdiǎn yán.
Really? I'll put less salt next time.
尝尝咸淡
A
你尝尝这个菜，咸不咸？
Nǐ chángchang zhège cài, xián bù xián?
Taste this dish, is it salty or not?
B
我觉得正好，不咸也不淡。
Wǒ juéde zhènghǎo, bù xián yě bù dàn.
I think it's just right, not salty and not bland.
Related words and contrasts
opposite
淡
dàn
bland; lightly seasoned
咸 means salty; 淡 means the opposite—light or lacking salt.
contrast
甜
tián
sweet
咸 is salty, while 甜 is sweet. They are common taste contrasts.
contrast
酸
suān
sour
咸 is salty; 酸 is sour. Both are basic tastes.