闷气悶氣
Term · Tasting
stuffy odour
Literal meaning
stuffy air
Definition#
Stuffy odour: a dull, muffled, unrefreshing smell (GB/T 14487-2017 2.4.31, English "dull odour"), typically from leaf kept hot and covered, for example oolong not spread to cool after roasting (the 1993 edition calls the roasting variant 闷火).
Translation and usage#
| Language | Use | Alternatives & cautions |
|---|---|---|
| English | stuffy odour dull, stewed, unrefreshing smell translation |
Also acceptable
|
| Deutsch | dumpfer Geruch muffiger, gedünsteter, unfrischer Ton translation |
Also acceptable
|
| Русский | запаренный запах глухой, тусклый, «запаренный» тон translation |
Also acceptable
|
| 简体字 | 闷气 | |
| 繁體字 | 悶氣 | Regional usage
|
| 日本語 | 蒸れ臭 |
Common confusions#
- Reading: zdic gives mēnqì for "stuffy, airless" and mèn for pent-up anger; the tea fault is the first sense.
- Taiwan glossaries use 悶（熟）味 for a similar "stewed vegetable" smell.