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March 24, 2026
醋cù(cu4)
醋 (cù) primarily refers to vinegar, a common condiment used in Chinese cooking, known for its sour taste. In a figurative sense, it also conveys feelings of jealousy, especially in romantic contexts. This dual meaning is frequently used in idiomatic expressions, reflecting both culinary and emotional nuances.
Strokes15Radical酉Frequency#9239DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, food plays a significant role in social interactions, and vinegar is not just a condiment but also a symbol of the complex emotions surrounding love and jealousy, often depicted in literature and media.
Memory Tip
Imagine a chef pouring a bottle of醋 (cù) over a dish, making it sour, just like how jealousy can sour a relationship. The character 醋 has the radical for 'liquor' (酒) on the left, hinting at its use in cooking, while the right side reminds you of the sound 'cù' — think of a jealous person stirring a pot of vinegar!
Meanings of 醋
cù(cu4)
1vinegar
2jealousy (in love rivalry)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 醋
醋Simplified
15Strokes
酉Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#9239Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L6IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 醋
Podcast: 醋
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AI Study Notes for 醋
Quick Contrast
醋 (cù, vinegar) vs 酸 (suān, sour) — pick 醋 when referring to the condiment specifically, not just the taste.
Usage Notes
When using 醋 to express jealousy, be cautious of the context, as it is informal and often playful. Common collocations include '吃醋' (chī cù), meaning 'to be jealous'. Be careful with the tone, as saying it in a serious tone can lead to misunderstandings about your intent.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 醋 connects well with other food-related vocabulary like 食物 (shíwù, food) and 调料 (tiáoliào, seasoning). Focus on both its literal and metaphorical meanings to enhance your conversational skills.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 醋 with 酸, using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我很酸' (wǒ hěn suān, I am sour) instead of '我很醋' (wǒ hěn cù, I am jealous) is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 醋
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2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 醋? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 醋?
Decomposition of 醋
IDS Structure⿰酉昔
醋Full Character
=
酉you3
left
昔Xi1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 醋?
How to say vinegar in Chinese
“vinegar” in Chinese is醋cù
醋 (cù) primarily refers to vinegar, a common condiment used in Chinese cooking, known for its sour taste. In a figurative sense, it also conveys feelings of jealousy, especially in romantic contexts. This dual meaning is frequently used in idiomatic expressions, reflecting both culinary and emotional nuances.
When to use 醋
When using 醋 to express jealousy, be cautious of the context, as it is informal and often playful. Common collocations include '吃醋' (chī cù), meaning 'to be jealous'. Be careful with the tone, as saying it in a serious tone can lead to misunderstandings about your intent.
醋 or something close to it
醋 (cù, vinegar) vs 酸 (suān, sour) — pick 醋 when referring to the condiment specifically, not just the taste.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 醋 with 酸, using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我很酸' (wǒ hěn suān, I am sour) instead of '我很醋' (wǒ hěn cù, I am jealous) is incorrect.
Write 醋
醋
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Practice writing 醋 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 醋
醋 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
他说了些谎，有时只是对事实添油加____了一番。
He told some lies and sometimes just embroidered the truth.
Example Sentences for 醋 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他说了些谎，有时只是对事实添油加醋了一番。
tā shuō le xiē huǎng， ， yǒu shí zhī shì duì shì shí tiān yóu jiā cù le yī。
He told some lies and sometimes just embroidered the truth.
