刺鼻

cìbí

adjective #29,998

Meanings

1 pungent
2 acrid
3 to assail the nostrils
4 sharp-smelling

Characters

to stab; to prick; sharp; piercing

Examples

HSK 7-9

厨房里散发出一股刺鼻的烟味。

Chúfáng lǐ sànfā chū yī gǔ cìbí de yānwèi.

The kitchen was filled with a pungent smell of smoke.

HSK 7-9

消毒水的气味很刺鼻。

Xiāodúshuǐ de qìwèi hěn cìbí.

The smell of disinfectant is very acrid.

Tips

memory

刺 means 'to stab; to prick' and 鼻 is 'nose', so a smell so sharp it feels like it is stabbing your nose. Very vivid and easy to remember.

Stroke Order

刺 cì

鼻 bí