Chinese word

酸

Pronunciation

Pinyinsuān

Meaning

  • adjectivesour

Example

这个柠檬很酸。zhè ge níng méng hěn suān

This lemon is very sour.

Illustration for 酸 (sour)

More examples

牛奶放坏了，会变酸。niú nǎi fàng huài le huì biàn suān

When milk spoils, it turns sour.

Core concept

A sharp taste that tightens the mouth and makes saliva flow, like the tang of citrus or vinegar.

Common phrases

  • 变得酸biàn de suān

    turn sour

  • 吃起来酸chī qǐ lái suān

    taste sour

Similar words

甜tián: Having a sweet taste that resembles sugar, honey, or candy.
苦kǔ: Having a bitter taste that can be found in some medicines, tea, or coffee.
咸xián: Having the flavor of salt, as in salted food or seawater.
辣là: Having a sharp spicy taste that brings heat and a tingling feeling to the mouth.

Definition in Chinese

作为基本味之一，指舌头受到尖锐刺激并促使唾液分泌的味道，常见于柑橘类和醋类。zuò wéi jī běn wèi zhī yī zhǐ shé tou shòu dào jiān ruì cì jī bìng cù shǐ tuò yè fēn mì de wèi dào cháng jiàn yú gān jú lèi hé cù lèi

Word origin

The character 酸 (suān, "sour") is built as 酉 (yǒu, "wine vessel") + 夋 (qūn, "phonetic element"), reflecting the old association between sourness and fermented food or drink.

Usage tips

  • Chinese degree words such as 很 (hěn, "very") and 有点 (yǒudiǎn, "a little") come before this adjective, while its form stays unchanged.

Other meanings

  • acidnoun
  • turn sourverb
  • sournessnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 酸味suān wèisournessnoun
  • 酸性suān xìngaciditynoun

Word lists with this word