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B1 verb 8 min read

吃醋

chicu

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 吃醋 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 吃醋 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you can think of '吃醋' (chī cù) as a funny phrase that means 'to be jealous.' Even though you are just starting, you can remember that 'chī' means 'to eat' and 'cù' means 'vinegar.' In China, if a boy sees his girlfriend talking to another boy and feels a little sad or angry, we say he is 'eating vinegar.' It's a very common way to talk about feelings in stories or cartoons. You don't need to worry about the hard grammar yet, just remember: Eat + Vinegar = Romantic Jealousy! It's much more common than the formal word for jealousy, so it's a great 'secret' word to know early on. You can use it to talk about your favorite characters in a show. For example, 'He eats vinegar!' (他吃醋了!). It's a fun way to see how Chinese uses food to describe feelings.

At the A2 level, you should start to notice that '吃醋' (chī cù) is used specifically for couples. You might have learned '羡慕' (xiànmù) which is when you want someone's cool shoes. '吃醋' is different. It's only for love. Grammatically, you should try to remember that '了' (le) often comes after it because jealousy is usually a reaction to something that just happened. 'He saw the photo and he ate vinegar' (他看了照片，吃醋了). You should also learn the basic structure '吃 [someone]'s vinegar' (吃 [someone] 的醋). Even if you can't use it perfectly, recognizing that 'eating vinegar' isn't about lunch but about a boyfriend or girlfriend being upset is a big step in understanding natural Chinese conversation. It's a very 'living' language term that you'll hear in songs and see in comics.

At the B1 level, you are expected to use '吃醋' (chī cù) correctly in context and understand its grammar as a 'separable verb' (离合词). This means you know that you cannot say '我吃醋他,' but must say '他在吃我的醋' (He is jealous of me). You should understand that '吃醋' is informal and very common in daily life. You can use it to describe a situation in a love triangle or a small argument between partners. You should also be able to distinguish it from '嫉妒' (jídù). While 'jídù' can be used for a coworker getting a promotion, '吃醋' would be wrong there unless there's a romantic element. At this level, you can also start using '爱吃醋' (loves to get jealous) to describe someone's personality. It's a key word for expressing more complex social emotions beyond just 'happy' or 'sad.'

At the B2 level, you should be comfortable with the cultural nuances and idiomatic expansions of '吃醋' (chī cù). You should know related phrases like '醋坛子' (cùtánzi - vinegar jar, referring to a jealous person) and '醋意' (cùyì - the feeling of jealousy). You can use it to discuss character motivations in literature or film. For instance, you might analyze how a character's 'eating vinegar' leads to a misunderstanding in a plot. You should also be aware of the 'separable' nature in more complex sentences, such as '吃了好几天的醋' (was jealous for several days). At this stage, your usage should feel natural, including the ability to use it jokingly to tease friends about their romantic interests. You understand that while it's a 'sour' emotion, it's often viewed with a degree of empathy or humor in Chinese society.

At the C1 level, you should have a deep understanding of the etymological roots of '吃醋' (chī cù) and its place in the broader spectrum of Chinese emotional vocabulary. You can use it alongside more literary terms like '拈酸吃醋' (niān suān chī cù) or '争风吃醋' (zhēng fēng chī cù - to fight over a lover out of jealousy). You should be able to discuss the historical legend of the Tang Dynasty Empress who chose to drink 'poison' (which was vinegar) rather than allow her husband to take a concubine. Your use of the term should reflect an understanding of register—knowing that '吃醋' provides a specific 'flavor' to a sentence that '嫉妒' cannot. You can also recognize how the term is used metaphorically in political or social commentary to describe 'sour' reactions to others' successes, though the romantic core remains primary.

At the C2 level, you master '吃醋' (chī cù) as both a linguistic and a cultural icon. You can use it with precision in creative writing to evoke specific atmospheres. You understand the subtle difference between '吃醋', '吃飞醋' (chī fēi cù - to be jealous without any basis), and '打翻了醋坛子' (dǎ fān le cù tán zi - to have a massive jealous outburst). You can engage in high-level discussions about how this metaphor reflects Chinese cultural attitudes toward romance, possessiveness, and emotional expression compared to Western metaphors. You are also familiar with how the term has evolved in the internet era, including its use in 'slash' fiction (CP culture) and fan communities. Your command of the word is indistinguishable from that of a native speaker, including the use of tone and subtext to convey irony, affection, or genuine distress.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

吃醋 in 30 Seconds

Literally 'eating vinegar,' it means romantic jealousy.
Used as a separable verb: 'eat [someone's] vinegar.'
Common in daily life, TV shows, and pop songs.
Distinct from general envy; strictly for romantic contexts.

The Chinese term 吃醋 (chī cù) literally translates to 'eating vinegar,' but its figurative meaning is far more common and culturally significant: to be jealous, specifically within the context of romantic relationships. While English uses 'green-eyed monster' or 'yellow' in some cultures to represent jealousy, Chinese culture associates the sharp, sour, and biting taste of vinegar with the stinging sensation of seeing a loved one show interest in someone else or receiving attention from a third party. This isn't just a simple word; it is a cultural cornerstone for describing the complexities of human emotion in dating and marriage.

Romantic Jealousy: This is the primary usage. If your boyfriend talks to his ex-girlfriend and you feel a pang of resentment, you are 'eating vinegar.' It implies a protective, sometimes possessive, but often playful sense of ownership over a partner's affection.
The 'Sour' Sensation: The metaphor works because vinegar is sharp and can be overwhelming. Similarly, jealousy 'sours' a mood or a relationship. It is an internal reaction that often manifests externally through pouting, coldness, or sharp remarks.

看到男朋友和别的女生聊天，她又吃醋了。(Seeing her boyfriend chatting with another girl, she got jealous again.)

The term is a 'Verb-Object' (VO) compound, meaning it behaves like a verb but consists of an action (eat) and a noun (vinegar). This structure allows for interesting grammatical flexibility. You can 'eat a lot of vinegar' (吃了很多醋) or 'eat his vinegar' (吃他的醋), meaning to be jealous of him or because of him. It is rarely used for professional envy or jealousy over a friend's new car; for those situations, words like 羡慕 (xiànmù - admire/envy) or 嫉妒 (jídù - jealous/envious in a broader sense) are more appropriate. 'Eating vinegar' is almost exclusively reserved for the 'sour' feelings involving a third wheel in a romantic dynamic.

你是不是在吃醋呀？(Are you being jealous right now?)

Playful vs. Serious: Depending on the tone, 'eating vinegar' can be a lighthearted tease between lovers or a description of a serious conflict. It is a versatile tool for navigating the emotional landscape of Chinese social interactions.

Using 吃醋 (chī cù) correctly requires understanding its status as a separable verb. In Mandarin, many two-character verbs can be 'split' to include extra information like duration, frequency, or the object of the emotion. This is the most common pitfall for English speakers who try to translate 'I am jealous of you' literally. You cannot say '我吃醋你' (Wǒ chīcù nǐ). Instead, you must use specific structures.

Structure 1: 吃 [Person] 的醋: This is the standard way to say 'to be jealous of someone.' Literally, 'to eat someone's vinegar.'
Example: 他在吃你的醋 (He is being jealous of you).
Structure 2: 为 [Person/Event] 吃醋: Using the preposition 'wèi' (for/because of).
Example: 你没必要为他吃醋 (There is no need for you to be jealous because of him).

我只是开个玩笑，你别吃醋了。(I was just joking, don't be jealous.)

Another important aspect is the use of 'quantifiers.' Because 'vinegar' is treated as a noun in this phrase, you can modify it to show intensity. A person who is very jealous might be said to 'eat a lot of vinegar' (吃大醋) or you might say 'the vinegar jar has been overturned' (醋坛子翻了), which is a common idiom meaning someone has become extremely jealous. Understanding these variations helps you sound more like a native speaker and less like a textbook.

In terms of tense and aspect, you can use '了' (le) to indicate that someone has *become* jealous. '他吃醋了' (He has become jealous). You can also use '在' (zài) to show the ongoing state: '他正在吃醋呢' (He is currently being jealous). The word is flexible and fits into almost any standard Chinese sentence pattern for verbs, provided you respect its separable nature.

如果你去参加那个聚会，他肯定会吃醋。(If you go to that party, he will definitely be jealous.)

You will encounter 吃醋 (chī cù) in a wide variety of social and media contexts. It is perhaps one of the most frequently used 'emotional' verbs in modern Mandarin, especially in the digital age where social media interactions provide constant fuel for romantic jealousy. From TV screenplays to casual WeChat stickers, this word is everywhere.

TV Dramas and Movies: In almost every romantic comedy (偶像剧), there is a scene where the male or female lead sees their partner with a rival. The audience will immediately comment '他吃醋了!' (He's jealous!) in the 'bullet chat' (弹幕) on streaming platforms like Bilibili or iQIYI.
Everyday Gossip: When friends discuss their relationships, '吃醋' is the go-to word. '我女朋友特别爱吃醋' (My girlfriend loves to get jealous/is very prone to jealousy) is a common complaint—or sometimes a humblebrag about how much she cares.

哎呀，别生气了，你是不是又在吃醋了？(Oh, don't be mad, are you being jealous again?)

Beyond real-life romance, you might hear it in fan culture. Fans of celebrities or 'idols' might joke about 'eating vinegar' when their favorite star acts in a romantic scene with a co-star. This 'fandom jealousy' is a lighthearted application of the term. Even in literature, from classic novels like 'Dream of the Red Chamber' to modern web-novels, the concept of 'vinegar' is used to describe the intricate power dynamics and emotional tug-of-war between characters in a love triangle.

这个男主角太爱吃醋了，真有意思。(This male lead loves getting jealous, it's really interesting.)

While 吃醋 (chī cù) is a B1 level word, many learners struggle with its specific constraints. Because it is a metaphor, it doesn't function exactly like the English word 'jealous.' Here are the most frequent errors to avoid.

Mistake 1: Using it for Non-Romantic Jealousy: If your friend gets a better grade than you, you don't 'eat vinegar.' That is '嫉妒' (jídù) or '羡慕' (xiànmù). '吃醋' is strictly for 'romantic sourness.' Using it for grades or money sounds confusing or suggests you have a romantic crush on your friend's teacher or boss.
Mistake 2: Incorrect Word Order: As mentioned, '我吃醋你' is wrong. You must say '我吃你的醋.' This is because '醋' is the object of the verb '吃'. You are eating *the vinegar of someone*.

错误：他吃醋他的同事。(Wrong: He is jealous of his colleague - implying romantic rivalry incorrectly.)

Another mistake is overusing it in formal writing. '吃醋' is quite colloquial. In a psychological paper or a formal news report about a 'crime of passion,' you would more likely see '嫉妒心理' (jealous psychology) or '情感纠葛' (emotional entanglement). '吃醋' is best kept for conversations, fiction, and informal social media. Finally, don't confuse it with literal eating. If you are actually consuming vinegar for health reasons (a common practice in some parts of China), you would usually say '喝醋' (hē cù - drink vinegar) to avoid the romantic connotation, though '吃醋' can literally mean eating it in a culinary sense in very specific contexts.

正确：他在吃同事的醋。(Correct: He is jealous of his colleague - because the colleague is flirting with his wife.)

To truly master the concept of jealousy in Chinese, you need to know when to use 吃醋 (chī cù) and when to reach for a synonym. Chinese has a rich vocabulary for 'envy' and 'jealousy' depending on the intensity and the target.

嫉妒 (jídù): This is the most direct translation of 'jealousy' or 'envy.' It is more formal than '吃醋' and can be used in any context (work, school, romance). It often carries a more negative, even malicious connotation. If you 'jídù' someone, you might want to harm them or take what they have.
羡慕 (xiànmù): This means 'to admire' or 'to envy' in a positive way. 'I envy your beautiful house' would use '羡慕.' It lacks the 'sourness' or 'bitterness' of '吃醋'.
眼红 (yǎnhóng): Literally 'red-eyed.' This describes the greed or envy one feels when seeing someone else's success or possessions. It's similar to 'green with envy' in English.

虽然我很羡慕他的成功，但我并不嫉妒他。(Although I admire/envy his success, I am not jealous of him.)

There are also more colorful idioms. 拈酸吃醋 (niān suān chī cù) adds 'niān suān' (picking at sourness) to emphasize a person who is constantly looking for reasons to be jealous or who is acting in a petty, jealous manner. Another one is 醋意大发 (cù yì dà fā), which means 'a great burst of vinegar-intent,' used when someone suddenly becomes extremely jealous. Understanding these levels of 'sourness' allows you to express the exact nuance of the situation.

他这人最爱拈酸吃醋，你离他远点。(He is very prone to petty jealousy, stay away from him.)

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The Emperor gave Fang's wife a choice: accept the concubines or drink a cup of 'poison.' She chose the poison and drank it all, but it turned out to be just vinegar! The Emperor was so impressed by her resolve that he let the matter drop.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /tʃiː tsuː/

US /tʃiː tsuː/

The stress is balanced on both syllables, though the first (chī) is a high flat tone and the second (cù) is a falling tone.

Rhymes With

衣 (yī) 西 (xī) 路 (lù) 步 (bù) 鸡 (jī) 物 (wù) 度 (dù) 七 (qī)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'c' as 'k' (it should be 'ts').
Using the wrong tones (chī is 1st tone, cù is 4th tone).
Merging the two sounds into one syllable.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Characters are relatively common (B1 level).

Writing 4/5

The character '醋' is complex to write stroke-by-stroke.

Speaking 2/5

Easy to say once you master the 'ts' sound in 'cù'.

Listening 2/5

Very distinctive sound and context.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

吃喝酸生气喜欢

Learn Next

嫉妒羡慕恋爱分手前任

Advanced

拈酸吃醋争风吃醋五味杂陈红杏出墙

Grammar to Know

Separable Verbs (离合词)

吃过醋, 吃了很多醋, 吃他的醋

The 'le' for change of state

他吃醋了 (He has become jealous)

Prepositional phrases with 'wei'

为他吃醋 (Jealous because of him)

Degree adverbs

特别吃醋, 有点吃醋

Reduplication for tone

吃吃小醋 (Eating a bit of little vinegar - playful)

Examples by Level

他吃醋了。

He is jealous.

Subject + Verb + le (change of state).

你吃醋吗？

Are you jealous?

Simple question with 'ma'.

我不吃醋。

I am not jealous.

Negative 'bu' before the verb.

她爱吃醋。

She loves to get jealous.

'Ai' (love to) + verb.

不要吃醋。

Don't be jealous.

Imperative 'bu yao'.

他在吃醋。

He is being jealous.

Continuous 'zai' indicating action in progress.

谁吃醋了？

Who is jealous?

Question word 'shui' (who).

你又吃醋了。

You are jealous again.

'You' (again) indicating repetition.

他因为那件事吃醋了。

He got jealous because of that matter.

Yinwei (because) + reason + verb.

你是在吃我的醋吗？

Are you jealous of me?

Shi...de structure for emphasis.

看到你和他说话，我会吃醋。

Seeing you talk to him, I will be jealous.

Condition + result.

别吃醋了，我只喜欢你。

Don't be jealous, I only like you.

Adverb 'zhi' (only).

他是一个爱吃醋的人。

He is a person who gets jealous easily.

Attributive clause with 'de'.

她没吃醋，她只是累了。

She's not jealous, she's just tired.

Contrastive sentence.

你为什么吃醋？

Why are you jealous?

'Wei shenme' (why).

他经常吃女朋友的醋。

He often gets jealous of his girlfriend.

Frequency adverb 'jingchang'.

如果你不告诉他真相，他会吃醋的。

If you don't tell him the truth, he will be jealous.

Ruguo...de hua (if) structure.

我从来没见他吃过这么大的醋。

I have never seen him so jealous before.

Experiential 'guo' and quantifier 'da'.

看到他们走得那么近，我心里有点吃醋。

Seeing them get so close, I feel a bit jealous in my heart.

Psychological state 'xinli'.

他故意让你吃醋，别上当。

He is intentionally making you jealous, don't fall for it.

Causative 'rang' (make/let).

这种小事没必要吃醋吧？

There's no need to be jealous over such a small thing, right?

Rhetorical question with 'ba'.

她虽然嘴上不说，心里其实在吃醋。

Although she doesn't say it, she's actually jealous.

Suiran...qishi (although...actually).

你是不是又在吃那封信的醋？

Are you jealous of that letter again?

Being jealous of an object (metaphorical).

别再吃那些没用的醋了。

Stop being jealous over those useless things.

Adjective 'meiyong de' modifying 'cu'.

他那个人醋劲儿特别大，你得小心点。

That guy is incredibly jealous, you have to be careful.

Noun 'cujinr' (tendency to be jealous).

由于误会，他打翻了醋坛子。

Due to a misunderstanding, he had a jealous outburst.

Idiom 'dafanle cutanzi'.

他这种行为分明是在吃醋嘛。

This behavior of his is clearly him being jealous.

Adverb 'fenming' (clearly).

我只是把他当朋友，你吃哪门子醋啊？

I just treat him as a friend, what on earth are you jealous about?

Idiomatic 'chi na men zi cu' (what kind of jealousy).

看着前妻和别人结婚，他心里五味杂陈，免不了吃醋。

Watching his ex-wife marry someone else, he felt a mix of emotions and couldn't help but feel jealous.

Idiom 'wu wei za chen' (mixed emotions).

她这辈子最讨厌爱吃醋的男人。

In her life, she hates jealous men the most.

Superlative 'zui' with a complex object.

你吃醋的样子其实挺可爱的。

The way you look when you're jealous is actually quite cute.

Noun phrase '...de yangzi'.

不要因为一点小误会就大吃其醋。

Don't get all jealous just because of a small misunderstanding.

Formal structure 'da chi qi cu'.

这种争风吃醋的行为在职场中是非常幼稚的。

This kind of fighting over someone out of jealousy is very childish in the workplace.

Idiom 'zhengfeng chicu' as a noun phrase.

他醋意大发，竟然当众和对方吵了起来。

He had a huge burst of jealousy and actually started a public argument with the other person.

Noun phrase 'cuyi dafa' as a predicate.

文学作品中常以‘吃醋’来表现人物内心细腻的情感波动。

Literary works often use 'eating vinegar' to show the delicate emotional fluctuations of characters.

Formal 'yi...lai' structure.

他那不经意的眼神，让她瞬间打翻了醋坛子。

That careless look of his made her instantly fly into a jealous rage.

Resultative 'shanjian' (instantly).

你这分明是拈酸吃醋，何必找那么多借口？

You are clearly being petty and jealous, why make so many excuses?

Rhetorical 'hebi' (why bother).

在某些文化中，吃醋被视为一种缺乏安全感的表现。

In certain cultures, jealousy is seen as a sign of insecurity.

Passive 'bei shivei' (is regarded as).

他总是在这些琐事上吃飞醋，让人难以忍受。

He is always getting jealous without basis over these trifles, which is unbearable.

Specific term 'chi feicu'.

两人为了一个女孩争得面红耳赤，简直是醋海翻波。

The two men argued until they were red in the face over a girl; it was a veritable sea of jealousy.

Metaphorical idiom 'cuhai fanbo'.

这种深藏不露的吃醋，比明目张胆的嫉妒更令人胆寒。

This hidden jealousy is more chilling than blatant envy.

Comparison of two complex noun phrases.

他试图掩饰内心的醋意，但那颤抖的声音出卖了他。

He tried to hide the jealousy in his heart, but his trembling voice betrayed him.

Verb 'chumai' (betray).

在权力的游戏中，哪怕是一丁点的吃醋也可能引发灭顶之灾。

In the game of power, even a tiny bit of jealousy could trigger a total disaster.

Conditional 'napashi...ye' (even if).

她笔下的女性角色，往往在吃醋中完成自我意识的觉醒。

The female characters in her writing often achieve self-awareness through the process of jealousy.

Complex prepositional phrase 'zai...zhong'.

这种跨越时空的吃醋，源于对那段历史无法释怀的纠结。

This jealousy that spans time and space stems from an inability to let go of that period of history.

Verb 'yuan yu' (originate from).

他并非真的吃醋，只是想借此试探对方的底线。

He wasn't really jealous; he just wanted to use it to test the other person's boundaries.

Structure 'bing fei...zhishi' (is not...but only).

这种由爱生恨、由醋生妒的情感演变，是该剧的核心冲突。

This emotional evolution from love to hate and from jealousy to envy is the core conflict of the play.

Four-character parallel structures.

醋劲大发之余，他也不禁开始反思这段关系的本质。

In addition to his jealous outburst, he couldn't help but start reflecting on the essence of the relationship.

Structure '...zhi yu' (besides/in addition to).

Common Collocations

爱吃醋

吃...的醋

大吃其醋

莫名其妙地吃醋

醋劲儿

醋坛子

满脸醋意

为琐事吃醋

公开吃醋

疯狂吃醋

Common Phrases

醋坛子翻了

— Someone has become very jealous. Literally, the vinegar jar has tipped over.

看到他们聊天，他的醋坛子翻了。

老醋花生

— A literal dish (peanuts in aged vinegar). Be careful not to confuse with the idiom!

我点了一盘老醋花生。

醋意浓浓

— Thick with jealousy. Used to describe an atmosphere or expression.

他的语气醋意浓浓。

别乱吃醋

— Don't get jealous without reason.

那是我的哥哥，你别乱吃醋。

吃谁的醋？

— Whose vinegar are you eating? (Who are you jealous of?)

你说，你在吃谁的醋？

醋劲大发

— A sudden, strong surge of jealousy.

他突然醋劲大发，转身就走。

小醋包

— A cute nickname for someone who gets jealous easily (little vinegar bun).

我的女朋友是个小醋包。

醋海翻波

— A sea of jealousy is waving. Describes large-scale romantic conflict.

这出戏真是醋海翻波，精彩极了。

拈酸泼醋

— To act jealous and make a scene.

她整天拈酸泼醋，家里没个清净。

醋味儿

— The 'smell' or 'vibe' of jealousy.

我闻到了一股醋味儿。

Often Confused With

吃醋 vs 喝醋 (hē cù)

Literal drinking of vinegar for health. Use 'hē' to avoid romantic confusion.

吃醋 vs 嫉妒 (jídù)

Broader, more negative jealousy/envy for any reason.

吃醋 vs 羡慕 (xiànmù)

Positive envy/admiration. No 'sour' feeling.

Idioms & Expressions

"拈酸吃醋"

— To be jealous and petty. Often used for women in old literature, but now gender-neutral.

他总是为了这点小事拈酸吃醋。

Literary/Colloquial

"争风吃醋"

— To fight over a lover. Usually involves two rivals.

他们两个为了那个女孩争风吃醋。

Common

"打翻醋坛子"

— To have a major fit of jealousy.

一看到合影，他立马打翻了醋坛子。

Colloquial

"醋意大发"

— To suddenly become very jealous.

他看到情书后醋意大发。

Neutral

"醋海翻波"

— Intense jealousy and conflict in a relationship.

这段三角恋引发了醋海翻波。

Literary

"泼醋拈酸"

— Similar to 拈酸吃醋, emphasizing making a scene.

她在那儿泼醋拈酸，让人看笑话。

Colloquial

"吃飞醋"

— To be jealous over nothing or someone you aren't even dating.

你连他的面都没见过，吃什么飞醋？

Slang

"醋罐子"

— Another word for a jealous person (vinegar pot).

他是有名的醋罐子。

Informal

"酸气冲天"

— The 'sourness' (jealousy) is reaching the sky. Extremely jealous.

看他那样子，真是酸气冲天。

Colloquial

"风流罪过"

— While not directly 'chicu', it relates to the romantic troubles that cause it.

这都是他惹下的风流罪过。

Archaic

Easily Confused

吃醋 vs 羡慕

Both involve wanting what someone has.

Xiànmù is positive ('I wish I had that too'); Chīcù is romantic and negative ('Why are you with them?').

我羡慕你的才华，但我吃你男朋友的醋。

吃醋 vs 嫉妒

Both translate to 'jealousy' in English.

Jídù is a general, often malicious emotion; Chīcù is specific to romance and often less 'evil'.

他嫉妒我的成功，但他吃我妻子的醋。

吃醋 vs 眼红

Both describe a physical/sensory reaction to envy.

Yǎnhóng is about greed/status; Chīcù is about love.

看到他买新车，我眼红了。

吃醋 vs 生气

Jealousy often looks like anger.

Shēngqì is general anger; Chīcù is anger specifically triggered by romantic insecurity.

他不是在生气，他是在吃醋。

吃醋 vs 担心

Both involve fear of loss.

Dānxīn is general worry; Chīcù is worry specifically about a romantic rival.

我担心他，也吃他的醋。

Sentence Patterns

S + 吃醋了

他吃醋了。

S + 因为 + Reason + 吃醋

他因为那张照片吃醋。

S + 在吃 + Person + 的醋

你在吃我的醋吗？

S + 很/不/太 + 爱吃醋

我不爱吃醋。

S + 醋劲儿 + 很大/小

他的醋劲儿很大。

S + 把 + 醋坛子 + 打翻了

他把醋坛子打翻了。

S + 醋意大发

他当场醋意大发。

S + 并非...只是...

他并非真的吃醋，只是想逗你。

Word Family

Nouns

醋 (cù) - vinegar

醋意 (cùyì) - jealousy

醋坛子 (cùtánzi) - jealous person

Verbs

吃 (chī) - to eat

争风吃醋 (zhēngfēng chīcù) - to compete in jealousy

Adjectives

酸 (suān) - sour/jealous

嫉妒 (jídù)

羡慕 (xiànmù)

恋爱 (liàn'ài)

女朋友 (nǚpéngyǒu)

男朋友 (nánpéngyǒu)

How to Use It

frequency

Very High in romantic contexts.

Common Mistakes

我吃醋他。 → 我吃他的醋。
You cannot place the object directly after the verb-object compound 'chī cù'.
他嫉妒女朋友的前任。 → 他吃女朋友前任的醋。
While 'jídù' is grammatically correct, 'chī cù' is much more natural for romantic jealousy.
我吃醋你的新车。 → 我羡慕你的新车。
You don't 'eat vinegar' for objects; you use 'xiànmù' (envy/admire).
她喝醋了 (meaning she is jealous). → 她吃醋了。
Though 'hē' means drink and vinegar is a liquid, the idiom specifically uses 'chī' (eat).
他是一个吃醋人。 → 他是一个爱吃醋的人。
You need '爱' (love to) or '容易' (easy to) to describe a person's tendency.

Tips

Separable Verb Rule

Never put the object after 'chī cù'. Always use 'chī [someone] de cù'. This is the most important rule for this word.

The Tang Legend

Remember the story of the chancellor's wife. It helps you remember that the 'vinegar' was a substitute for poison, showing strong emotion.

Tone Matters

Saying 'chī cù le?' with a rising intonation at the end makes it a question. Use a flat, cold tone to show you are actually upset.

Noun vs Verb

While 'chī cù' is a verb phrase, 'cùyì' (vinegar intent) is the noun. Use it for more descriptive writing.

The 'Sour' Vibe

If you hear people talking about 'suān' (sour) in a romantic context, they are talking about 'eating vinegar'.

Radical Recognition

The '酉' radical is key for many food/drink words. Recognizing it helps you group 'cù' with words like 'jiǔ' (alcohol).

Teasing

It's a great word for light teasing among close friends who are dating. It shows you understand the social dynamics.

Level Up

Instead of just 'chī cù', try saying 'dǎ fān le cù tán zi' to impress native speakers with your idiomatic knowledge.

Avoid Literalism

Don't translate 'green with envy' as '绿色的嫉妒'. Use 'chī cù' or 'yǎnhóng' instead.

Check the Rival

Before using 'chī cù', ensure there is a 'third party' involved, even if only in the person's mind.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine your partner kissing someone else, and suddenly you are forced to drink a whole bottle of sour vinegar. That sharp, stinging feeling in your mouth and heart is 'chī cù'.

Visual Association

A person holding a giant bottle of vinegar while looking angrily at a couple in a park.

Word Web

Love Relationship Sour Vinegar Jealousy Rival Argument Possessive

Challenge

Try to use 'chī cù' in a sentence describing a scene from your favorite romantic movie or TV show.

Word Origin

The term is widely believed to originate from the Tang Dynasty. Emperor Taizong wanted to give his chancellor, Fang Xuanling, several concubines as a reward. Fang's wife was famously jealous and refused.

Original meaning: Eating/drinking vinegar.

Sino-Tibetan (Mandarin Chinese).

Cultural Context

Generally safe to use, but avoid using it to describe serious domestic abuse situations as it can sound too lighthearted.

Comparable to 'green with envy' or 'the green-eyed monster,' but specifically romantic.

Legend of Fang Xuanling's wife Dream of the Red Chamber (Lin Daiyu is famous for 'eating vinegar') Modern C-drama 'The Romance of Tiger and Rose'

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Romantic Rivalry

他在吃你的醋
别吃醋了
醋坛子翻了
你是不是吃醋了？

Friendship (joking)

你连我的醋都吃？
别吃飞醋
好大的醋味
你这个小醋包

TV Drama Discussions

男主角吃醋了
这段太酸了
醋意大发
大型吃醋现场

Self-Reflection

我有点吃醋
我不该吃醋
我承认我吃醋了
我会吃醋的

Relationship Advice

男人都爱吃醋
不要让他吃醋
吃醋是正常的
过度吃醋不好

Conversation Starters

"你觉得在一段感情中，吃醋是健康的吗？ (Do you think eating vinegar is healthy in a relationship?)"

"你最后一次吃醋是什么时候？ (When was the last time you ate vinegar?)"

"如果你看到你的女朋友和别的男生聊天，你会吃醋吗？ (If you saw your girlfriend chatting with another guy, would you get jealous?)"

"你是一个爱吃醋的人吗？ (Are you a person who loves to eat vinegar?)"

"你听说过‘吃醋’这个词背后的唐朝故事吗？ (Have you heard the Tang Dynasty story behind the word 'eating vinegar'?)"

Journal Prompts

描述一次你吃醋的经历。当时发生了什么？你感觉如何？ (Describe a time you ate vinegar. What happened? How did you feel?)

你认为‘吃醋’和‘嫉妒’有什么区别？ (What do you think is the difference between 'eating vinegar' and 'jealousy'?)

写一段对话，其中一个人在吃醋，而另一个人在解释。 (Write a dialogue where one person is eating vinegar and the other is explaining.)

你觉得为什么中国人用‘醋’来形容嫉妒？ (Why do you think Chinese people use 'vinegar' to describe jealousy?)

如果你的伴侣从不吃醋，你会觉得他/她不爱你吗？ (If your partner never ate vinegar, would you feel they don't love you?)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Usually no, unless you have romantic feelings for them. If you are jealous that your best friend has a new best friend, use '嫉妒' or '心里不平衡'.

No, it's a standard colloquial term. It can be used playfully or seriously depending on your tone.

Break it down: On the left is '酉' (yǒu - wine jar), on the right is '昔' (xī - ancient/past). Think of 'old wine' turning into vinegar.

It means being jealous without any foundation or right, like being jealous of a celebrity's spouse.

No, the term is completely gender-neutral.

Yes, but use '喝醋' or '蘸醋' (dipping in vinegar) to be clear you are talking about food.

It's a metaphor for a person who is very easily made jealous. Literally a 'vinegar jar'.

Only if there's a joke about 'loving' the job or if a romantic partner is involved. Otherwise, use '嫉妒'.

Highly unlikely. It's too informal and personal for a business setting.

You can say '我才没有吃醋呢！' (I'm definitely not jealous!) even if you are.