Significado
Describing a very sour taste.
Contexto cultural
Limes are served with almost every noodle dish. You squeeze them into the broth to cut through the fat and enhance the flavor. This constant presence makes the lime the primary reference for 'sour'. In the North, 'quả sấu' is another popular souring agent. While 'chua như chanh' is still used, you might hear people compare things to 'sấu' during the summer harvest. Southerners love 'Canh Chua' (Sour Soup) which uses tamarind (me). However, for a quick comparison of raw intensity, 'chua như chanh' remains the king of idioms. Eating sour fruit with 'muối tôm' (shrimp salt) is a social activity. Saying 'chua như chanh' is often part of the fun and shared 'pain' of eating something extremely tart.
Use it for emphasis
Don't just say 'chua'. Adding 'như chanh' makes you sound much more expressive and native.
Watch the tone
All three words are flat tones. If you change the tone, the meaning disappears!
Significado
Describing a very sour taste.
Use it for emphasis
Don't just say 'chua'. Adding 'như chanh' makes you sound much more expressive and native.
Watch the tone
All three words are flat tones. If you change the tone, the meaning disappears!
The 'Face' factor
When you say this phrase, slightly scrunch your face. It helps convey the meaning even if your pronunciation isn't perfect.
Teste-se
Fill in the missing word to complete the idiom.
Quả xoài này chua như ____.
The standard idiom is 'chua như chanh'.
Which sentence is the most natural way to say 'This soup is very sour'?
Chọn câu đúng nhất:
The structure Adjective + như + Noun is the most natural idiomatic form.
Match the taste with its standard comparison.
Nối các cặp từ:
In Vietnamese, sour is compared to lime, sweet to sugar, spicy to chili, and bitter to bitter melon.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Nước cam này thế nào? B: Nó ____, cho mình xin thêm đường.
Since the speaker asks for more sugar, the drink must be sour.
In which situation would you say 'chua như chanh'?
Tình huống nào dùng 'chua như chanh'?
Green mangoes are famously sour, making them a perfect fit for this idiom.
🎉 Pontuação: /5
Recursos visuais
Banco de exercicios
5 exerciciosQuả xoài này chua như ____.
The standard idiom is 'chua như chanh'.
Chọn câu đúng nhất:
The structure Adjective + như + Noun is the most natural idiomatic form.
Combine cada item a esquerda com seu par a direita:
In Vietnamese, sour is compared to lime, sweet to sugar, spicy to chili, and bitter to bitter melon.
A: Nước cam này thế nào? B: Nó ____, cho mình xin thêm đường.
Since the speaker asks for more sugar, the drink must be sour.
Tình huống nào dùng 'chua như chanh'?
Green mangoes are famously sour, making them a perfect fit for this idiom.
🎉 Pontuação: /5
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasNo, the idiom is fixed with 'chanh'. Even though lemons are sourer to some, the cultural benchmark is the lime.
It depends on your tone. If said with a smile, it's just an observation. If said with a frown, it's a complaint.
Yes, in terms of taste. Metaphorically, it can mean 'acidic' or 'harsh'.
The opposite is 'ngọt như đường' (sweet as sugar).
Only for their voice (giọng chua). For their personality, use 'chanh chua'.
It's a bit casual. In formal writing, you'd use 'vị chua gắt' or 'rất chua'.
Both exist, but 'chanh' is more common for fresh food, while 'giấm' often implies something fermented or spoiled.
Both are correct, but 'chua như chanh' is more idiomatic and concise.
People will understand you, but it's not a standard idiom. It sounds like a 'broken' comparison.
Yes, it is universally understood and used across all regions of Vietnam.
Frases relacionadas
Ngọt như đường
contrastSweet as sugar.
Chua lè
similarExtremely sour (informal).
Chua ngoa
specialized formSharp-tongued / Shrewish.
Mặn như muối
similarSalty as salt.
