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March 24, 2026
酢cù(cu4)
酢 (cù) refers to a kind of toast, typically made by a guest to honor the host during a gathering or celebration. This character is also a variant of 醋 (cù), which means vinegar, and it carries connotations of hospitality and respect in social interactions.
Strokes12Radical酉Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, making a toast is an important ritual during banquets and celebrations, symbolizing respect and goodwill. The use of 酢 in this context highlights the emphasis on hospitality and the social bonds formed during meals.
Memory Tip
Imagine a guest raising a cup filled with vinegar (醋) during a toast, honoring their host. The character 酢 looks somewhat like a cup (the top part) with liquid (the bottom part), helping you remember its association with toasting and hospitality.
Meanings of 酢
cù(cu4)
primary
1a toast to the host
2toast to host by guest
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 酢
酢Simplified
12Strokes
酉Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 酢
Podcast: 酢
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AI Study Notes for 酢
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a guest raising a cup filled with vinegar (醋) during a toast, honoring their host. The character 酢 looks somewhat like a cup (the top part) with liquid (the bottom part), helping you remember its association with toasting and hospitality.
Usage Notes
酢 is used more in formal or ceremonial contexts, especially during banquets. A common mistake is to confuse it with 醋, which is used more frequently in cooking. It's important to use the correct tone (cù) to avoid misunderstanding.
HSK Study Tips
Although 酢 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can enrich your understanding of related words, especially those involving social customs. Focus on the differences between 酢 and 醋 to enhance your vocabulary about food and social etiquette.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, making a toast is an important ritual during banquets and celebrations, symbolizing respect and goodwill. The use of 酢 in this context highlights the emphasis on hospitality and the social bonds formed during meals.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 酢 with 醋 because of their similar pronunciation and character structure. For example, saying '我喜欢酢' (Wǒ xǐhuān cù) to mean 'I like vinegar' is incorrect; the correct term is 醋 (cù).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 酢
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Cultural Notes for 酢
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, making a toast is an important ritual during banquets and celebrations, symbolizing respect and goodwill. The use of 酢 in this context highlights the emphasis on hospitality and the social bonds formed during meals.
Word Family of 酢
Words Containing This Character2
酢cùvinegar
酬酢to exchange toasts
Exercise 1 of 2
Compound Meaning
What does 酢 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 酢
You can say, '我敬你一杯酢' (Wǒ jìng nǐ yī bēi cù), meaning 'I toast to you with a drink.'
No, 酢 is more specific to formal occasions and is not frequently used in casual conversations.
酢 is mainly used for toasting, while 醋 refers to vinegar, the sour condiment.
