唇齿留香
chún chǐ liú xiāng
to leave a lingering taste in the mouth
Character by character
唇chún
lips
lips
齿chǐ
teeth
teeth
留liú
keep
keep
香xiāng
fragrance
fragrance
Example
这家店的烤鸭皮脆肉嫩，吃完好久还觉得唇齿留香。
The roast duck here has crisp skin and tender meat, and the taste stays with you long after you have eaten.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
A food writer’s and advertiser’s phrase for tea, wine, soup or a dish whose flavour lingers after swallowing: 让人唇齿留香, 喝完唇齿留香. Only for food and drink. Not to be confused with 唇亡齿寒 (lesson 5-6), where lips and teeth stand for neighbours who need each other.
Learn this in Lesson 136 · HSK 7–9: 一锅老火汤 (A pot of slow-cooked soup)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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