chīxiāng: 吃香 - Popular, In Demand, Sought-After

• Keywords: chīxiāng, 吃香, chixiang meaning, Chinese for popular, in demand in Chinese, sought-after, well-liked, Chinese slang, popular job, HSK 5
• Summary: Ever wondered how to say something is “all the rage” or “highly sought-after” in Chinese? The term 吃香 (chīxiāng) literally means “to eat fragrance,” but it vividly describes anything or anyone that is very popular, in high demand, or well-liked. From a sought-after skill in the job market to a person everyone wants to be friends with, understanding 'chīxiāng' is key to grasping what's currently valued in Chinese culture and society.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): chīxiāng
• Part of Speech: Adjective / Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To be very popular, in high demand, or well-regarded.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine something so appealing it's as if everyone wants to “eat” its “fragrance.” That's the feeling of 吃香 (chīxiāng). It's not just about being liked; it's about being actively sought after because of a perceived value. This could be a person with a valuable skill, a product that everyone wants, or an idea that's currently trending. It implies desirability and high value in a specific context, like being a “hot commodity.”

• 吃 (chī): This character means “to eat,” one of the most fundamental actions in life and Chinese culture. It's composed of the “mouth” radical 口 (kǒu) on the left.
• 香 (xiāng): This character means “fragrant,” “aromatic,” or “scented.” Think of the pleasing smell of good food, flowers, or perfume. The character itself is a combination of 禾 (hé - grain) and 甘 (gān - sweet), evoking the sweet, fragrant smell of harvested grain.
• Combined Meaning: The literal translation “to eat fragrance” is a powerful metaphor. Something is so desirable and appealing (fragrant) that people want to consume or possess it (eat it). This creates the modern meaning of being popular, in demand, and highly valued.

The term 吃香 (chīxiāng) is deeply rooted in the importance of food in Chinese culture. Many abstract concepts are expressed through eating metaphors, such as 吃苦 (chīkǔ) (to eat bitterness; to endure hardship) and 吃亏 (chīkuī) (to eat a loss; to suffer a disadvantage). 吃香 fits this pattern perfectly, framing desirability as something as satisfying and essential as a fragrant meal. Compared to the Western concept of being “popular” or “cool,” 吃香 often implies a more practical or tangible value. While a celebrity might be popular, a software engineer with AI skills is 吃香 in the job market. This reflects a pragmatic cultural value: what is popular is often what is useful, beneficial, or provides a clear advantage. It's less about fleeting trends and more about recognized, sought-after value within a specific system (a company, the job market, a social group).

吃香 is a very common, informal term used in everyday conversation. You'll hear it frequently in discussions about careers, social dynamics, and consumer trends.

• In the Workplace and Job Market: This is one of the most common contexts. It's used to describe professions, skills, or degrees that are in high demand and lead to better opportunities.
• In Social Situations: It can describe a type of person who is well-liked and gets along with everyone, especially with figures of authority like bosses or teachers. For example, a “sweet-talker” or a very capable person might be described as 吃香.
• For Products and Trends: It can refer to a product that is selling extremely well or a style that is currently “in vogue.”

Its connotation is almost always positive, but it can occasionally be used with a hint of envy or to describe someone who is popular for sycophantic reasons.

• Example 1:
  • 现在学计算机科学很吃香。
  • Pinyin: Xiànzài xué jìsuànjī kēxué hěn chīxiāng.
  • English: Studying computer science is in high demand right now.
  • Analysis: A classic example of using 吃香 for a field of study that offers good career prospects.
• Example 2:
  • 他嘴巴甜，在老板面前特别吃香。
  • Pinyin: Tā zuǐbā tián, zài lǎobǎn miànqián tèbié chīxiāng.
  • English: He's a sweet-talker, so he's especially popular with the boss.
  • Analysis: This shows how 吃香 can describe a person who is favored, sometimes for reasons like being good at flattery.
• Example 3:
  • 在我们公司，会做PPT的人非常吃香。
  • Pinyin: Zài wǒmen gōngsī, huì zuò PPT de rén fēicháng chīxiāng.
  • English: In our company, people who are good at making PowerPoint presentations are highly valued.
  • Analysis: This highlights how a specific, practical skill can make someone 吃香 in a particular environment.
• Example 4:
  • 你觉得未来什么专业最吃香？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ juéde wèilái shénme zhuānyè zuì chīxiāng?
  • English: What major do you think will be the most in-demand in the future?
  • Analysis: A common question among students and parents, directly linking 吃香 to future value.
• Example 5:
  • 这款新出的电动汽车在市场上相当吃香。
  • Pinyin: Zhè kuǎn xīn chū de diàndòng qìchē zài shìchǎng shàng xiāngdāng chīxiāng.
  • English: This new model of electric car is quite popular on the market.
  • Analysis: Using 吃香 to describe a “hot” product that consumers are eager to buy.
• Example 6:
  • 几十年前，当一名工人是很吃香的职业。
  • Pinyin: Jǐ shí nián qián, dāng yī míng gōngrén shì hěn chīxiāng de zhíyè.
  • English: Decades ago, being a factory worker was a very desirable profession.
  • Analysis: This example uses 吃香 to talk about historical trends and what was valued in the past.
• Example 7:
  • 诚实、可靠的人到哪儿都吃香。
  • Pinyin: Chéngshí, kěkào de rén dào nǎr dōu chīxiāng.
  • English: Honest and reliable people are well-liked everywhere they go.
  • Analysis: This shows that positive character traits, not just skills, can make a person 吃香.
• Example 8:
  • 以前，男孩子比较吃香，但现在这个观念已经变了。
  • Pinyin: Yǐqián, nán háizi bǐjiào chīxiāng, dàn xiànzài zhège guānniàn yǐjīng biàn le.
  • English: In the past, boys were more desired, but this concept has now changed.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates how 吃香 can be used to discuss deeper social values and their evolution.
• Example 9:
  • 在相亲市场上，有稳定工作的公务员很吃香。
  • Pinyin: Zài xiāngqīn shìchǎng shàng, yǒu wěndìng gōngzuò de gōngwùyuán hěn chīxiāng.
  • English: In the matchmaking market, civil servants with stable jobs are very sought-after.
  • Analysis: A very practical example showing what is considered desirable (吃香) in the context of dating and marriage in China.
• Example 10:
  • 如果你不合群，在哪家公司都吃不开。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ bù héqún, zài nǎ jiā gōngsī dōu chībùkāi.
  • English: If you're not a team player, you won't be popular at any company.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the direct antonym, 吃不开 (chībùkāi), to illustrate the opposite meaning.

• Don't use it for food! The biggest mistake learners make is trying to use 吃香 to describe delicious food. It is always a metaphor. To say food is fragrant and tasty, use 好吃 (hǎochī) or just 香 (xiāng).
  • Incorrect: 这个菜很吃香。 (Zhège cài hěn chīxiāng.)
  • Correct: 这个菜很香 /很好吃。 (Zhège cài hěn xiāng / hěn hǎochī.)
• “Popular” vs. “In Demand”: While 吃香 can be translated as “popular,” it's different from 受欢迎 (shòu huānyíng), which simply means “is welcomed” or “is liked.” 吃香 carries a stronger sense of being in demand or sought-after because of a specific value. A friendly person is 受欢迎, but a person with a rare, valuable skill is 吃香.
• Grammar Point: 吃香 acts as a predicate adjective. It's almost always preceded by an adverb of degree like 很 (hěn), 非常 (fēicháng), 特别 (tèbié), or 不 (bù).

• 吃不开 (chībùkāi) - The direct antonym of 吃香. It means to be unpopular, not well-received, or unable to get one's way.
• 受欢迎 (shòu huānyíng) - To be popular or well-liked. A more general and slightly more formal term than 吃香. It lacks the “in-demand” nuance.
• 热门 (rèmén) - Literally “hot gate.” Describes a topic, subject, or choice that is currently trending or popular (e.g., a 热门专业 “popular major” or a 热门歌曲 “hit song”). It overlaps with 吃香 but focuses more on trends.
• 抢手 (qiǎngshǒu) - Literally “snatch hand.” Describes something so in demand that people are “fighting” over it. It implies scarcity and high competition. It's more intense than 吃香.
• 香饽饽 (xiāngbōbo) - A colloquial noun, “fragrant steamed bun.” It's used to refer to a person or thing that is highly sought-after. He/she is a 香饽饽 because his/her skills are 吃香.
• 吃苦 (chīkǔ) - “To eat bitterness.” A culturally significant term for enduring hardship, often seen as a virtue.
• 吃亏 (chīkuī) - “To eat loss.” To suffer a setback, be taken advantage of, or be at a disadvantage.