Chinese word

甜

Pronunciation

Pinyintián

Meaning

  • adjectivesweet

Example

这个水果太甜，有点腻。zhè ge shuí guǒ tài tián yóu diǎn nì

This fruit is too sweet, with a slightly sickly-sweet taste.

Illustration for 甜 (sweet)

More examples

这杯咖啡有点甜，我不需要加糖。zhè bēi kā fēi yóu diǎn tián wǒ bù xū yào jiā táng

This cup of coffee is a little sweet, so I don't need to add sugar.

Core concept

The tongue's sense of sugar-like sweetness, which can feel comforting and warm or become tiring when too strong.

Common phrases

  • 很甜hěn tián

    very sweet

  • 有点甜yóu diǎn tián

    a little sweet

  • 太甜tài tián

    too sweet

Similar words

酸suān: Having a sour taste like lemon juice.
咸xián: Having a salty taste from salt or soy sauce.
辣là: Having a hot, tingling taste from chili peppers.
苦kǔ: Having a bitter taste like coffee or medicine.

Definition in Chinese

表示味道像糖或蜂蜜那样，让舌头感到甘甜的感觉，也可比喻感情或气氛的温馨。biǎo shì wèi dào xiàng táng huò fēng mì nà yàng ràng shé tou gǎn dào gān tián de gǎn jué yě kě bǐ yù gǎn qíng huò qì fēn de wēn xīn

Word origin

甜 (tián, "sweet") is formed from 舌 (shé, "tongue") and 甘 (gān, "sweet"), so its written structure joins the tasting organ with the quality it detects.

Usage tips

  • English speakers often use sweet for a kind person or thoughtful act, while Chinese also applies this adjective to the feel of a relationship, voice, or atmosphere.

Other meanings

  • sickly sweetadjective

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word