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发酵 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
发酵fājiàoto fermentHSK 7, unknown, 19 strokes, rank #24985, Very Hard
发酵fājiàofermentationHSK 7, unknown, 19 strokes, rank #24985, Very Hard
fājiào(fa1jiao4)fa jiao T1
  1. 1to ferment
  2. 2fermentation
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March 24, 2026

发酵(發酵)fājiào(fa1jiao4)

发酵 (fā jiào) refers to the process of fermentation, where microorganisms such as yeast or bacteria convert sugars into alcohol or acids. This term is commonly used in food production, such as in brewing beer or making yogurt, and has implications in both culinary and scientific contexts.

Strokes19Frequency#24985DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

Fermentation is a crucial part of Chinese cuisine, especially in the production of traditional foods like soy sauce and fermented tofu, highlighting the importance of this process in both flavor and preservation.

Memory tip

Imagine a 'fa' (发)ir that 'jiao' (酵) is bubbling with excitement as it transforms sweet grapes into wine. The character 发 (fa) looks like something is starting to spread out, and 酵 (jiao) has a 'bubbling' component, suggesting a lively fermentation process.

Meanings of 发酵

fājiào(fa1jiao4)
1to ferment
2fermentation
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About 发酵

发酵Simplified
發酵Traditional
19Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

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AI study notes for 发酵

Quick Contrast

发酵 (ferment) vs 酿造 (brew) — use 发酵 when focusing on the fermentation process itself, while 酿造 emphasizes the overall brewing or production process.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 发酵 with similar terms like 变质 (biàn zhì), which means spoilage. This word can be used in both formal and informal settings, especially in culinary discussions. Remember that 发酵 is often paired with food-related words, like 面包 (miàn bāo, bread) or 酵母 (jiào mǔ, yeast).

HSK Study Tips

While 发酵 is not a specific HSK word, it connects with food vocabulary at HSK 3 and above. Students should focus on related terms in cooking and science to deepen their understanding and make connections with other HSK vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 发酵 in contexts unrelated to food, leading to confusion. For instance, saying '发酵' for a chemical reaction not involving fermentation is incorrect; use 化学反应 (huà xué fǎn yìng) instead.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 发酵

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Component characters

发fāto send out
HSK 35 strokes又
View full entry
酵jiàoyeast; to leaven
14 strokes酉
View full entry

How to say to ferment in Chinese

“to ferment” in Chinese is发酵fājiào

发酵 (fā jiào) refers to the process of fermentation, where microorganisms such as yeast or bacteria convert sugars into alcohol or acids. This term is commonly used in food production, such as in brewing beer or making yogurt, and has implications in both culinary and scientific contexts.

When to use 发酵

Be careful not to confuse 发酵 with similar terms like 变质 (biàn zhì), which means spoilage. This word can be used in both formal and informal settings, especially in culinary discussions. Remember that 发酵 is often paired with food-related words, like 面包 (miàn bāo, bread) or 酵母 (jiào mǔ, yeast).

发酵 or something close to it

发酵 (ferment) vs 酿造 (brew) — use 发酵 when focusing on the fermentation process itself, while 酿造 emphasizes the overall brewing or production process.

What learners get wrong

Learners often misuse 发酵 in contexts unrelated to food, leading to confusion. For instance, saying '发酵' for a chemical reaction not involving fermentation is incorrect; use 化学反应 (huà xué fǎn yìng) instead.

Write 发酵

发
酵

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Frequently asked questions about 发酵

In cooking, 发酵 refers to the fermentation process that enhances flavors and preserves food.

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