· vinegar
food
💡 How to pronounce

c → like the 'ts' in 'cats'. ù → like 'oo' with a falling tone.

📖 The Story

醋 combines 'alcohol' (酉) and 'suddenly' (昔) — vinegar is the result of alcohol fermentation. It is a sour, tangy liquid that adds depth to many Chinese dishes.

🎬 In Culture Today

Vinegar is especially important in northern Chinese cuisine — it's served with dumplings and noodles. Chinese black vinegar is sweet and rich, completely different from Western vinegar.

📚 Words

chī cùto be jealous
mǐ cùrice vinegar
cù píngvinegar bottle

📝 Example Sentences

吃饺子要蘸醋。

Chī jiǎozi yào zhàn cù.

Dumplings need to be dipped in vinegar.

她吃醋了。

Tā chī cù le.

She is jealous.