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A2 verb #7,000 most common 9 min read

尝出来

changchulai Top 7,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 尝出来 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 尝出来 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you are just starting to learn about food and basic verbs. '尝出来' (cháng chū lái) might seem a bit complex because it has three characters, but you can think of it as a special way to say 'I know what this is by tasting it.' At this stage, focus on the simple idea: '尝' means to taste, and '出来' means the answer comes to your mind. For example, if you drink something and realize it is milk, you '尝出来' it is milk. You will mostly hear this in simple questions like 'Can you taste the sugar?' or 'Is it good?' Even if you don't use it perfectly yet, knowing that '出来' adds the meaning of 'finding out' is very helpful for your progress in Chinese. You can use it simply: '我尝出来了' (I found the taste).

At the A2 level, you should begin to use '尝出来' (cháng chū lái) to describe your eating experiences. This is the level where you learn 'resultative complements.' This means the second part of the verb (出来) tells us the result of the first part (尝). If you taste a soup and identify that it has salt, the result of your tasting is the identification of salt. You should also learn the negative form: '尝不出来' (cháng bù chū lái). This is very useful when you are eating something new and you don't know what is in it. For example, '我尝不出来这是什么肉' (I can't taste/tell what kind of meat this is). Practice using it with common ingredients like salt (盐), sugar (糖), or spicy flavors (辣味).

At the B1 level, you can use '尝出来' (cháng chū lái) more flexibly in conversations about cooking and preferences. You should be comfortable with the potential form '尝得出来' (cháng de chū lái), which means 'to be able to taste and identify.' For example, you might say, '你尝得出来这两种茶的区别吗？' (Can you taste the difference between these two types of tea?). This level involves more nuanced discussions. You might use it to talk about the quality of food, such as tasting if something is fresh or if it was frozen. You can also use it to describe more complex flavors, like '尝出来一点点苦味' (to taste a little bit of bitterness). It shows that you are moving beyond basic survival Chinese into more descriptive and social language.

At the B2 level, '尝出来' (cháng chū lái) becomes a tool for detailed description and critique. You can use it to talk about subtle ingredients or cooking techniques. For instance, you might discuss how a chef's secret sauce has a hint of fruit that is hard to '尝出来.' You should also understand the difference between '尝出来' and other similar structures like '分辨出来' (to distinguish) or '察觉' (to perceive). You might use it in more complex sentence structures, such as: '虽然厨师加了很多调料，我还是能尝出来食材本身的鲜味' (Even though the chef added many seasonings, I could still taste the original freshness of the ingredients). At this level, your use of the word should reflect a deeper understanding of Chinese culinary culture and the importance of flavor profiles.

At the C1 level, you use '尝出来' (cháng chū lái) with precision and stylistic flair. You can use it in professional or academic discussions about gastronomy, wine, or tea. You understand the subtle implications of using this phrase—for example, how it can imply a compliment to the chef or a criticism of the ingredients. You can use it in metaphorical contexts if appropriate, though it remains primarily sensory. You might say, '这种酒的层次感非常丰富，每一口都能尝出来不同的风味' (The layers of this wine are very rich; every sip allows one to taste different flavors). You are also aware of regional variations and how different dialects might express this concept, though '尝出来' remains the standard Mandarin form for identifying flavors.

At the C2 level, '尝出来' (cháng chū lái) is used with the mastery of a native speaker. you can use it in literary descriptions or high-level culinary criticism. You might use it to describe the 'soul' of a dish or the historical lineage of a recipe that can be 'tasted out' by an expert. You can effortlessly switch between '尝出来,' '品出来,' '吃出来,' and more formal terms like '辨析' depending on the social context and the specific nuance you wish to convey. Your usage reflects not just linguistic accuracy, but a profound connection to the cultural weight that food and sensory perception hold in Chinese society. You might even use it to discuss the philosophical transition from sensation to knowledge.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

尝出来 in 30 Seconds

尝出来 (cháng chū lái) means to identify a flavor or ingredient specifically through the sense of taste, moving beyond the simple action of eating.
It uses a resultative complement structure where 'chū lái' indicates that the identity of the flavor has 'come out' or been discovered.
The negative form '尝不出来' is very common for saying you cannot tell what a flavor is or cannot distinguish between two items.
It is a key term in Chinese food culture, used to compliment cooks or discuss the quality and components of a meal.

The Chinese word 尝出来 (cháng chū lái) is a fascinating resultative verb construction that goes far beyond the simple English verb 'to taste.' While 'taste' often refers to the mere action of putting food in one's mouth, cháng chū lái specifically describes the successful identification of a flavor, an ingredient, or a quality through the sense of taste. It combines the verb 尝 (cháng), meaning to taste or sample, with the resultative complement 出来 (chū lái), which literally means 'to come out' but here functions to indicate the emergence of information or the completion of a cognitive identification process.

The Sensory Discovery: This term is used when someone successfully 'detects' or 'deciphers' what is inside a dish. Imagine a chef who adds a secret pinch of cinnamon to a savory beef stew. If a diner says they can 尝出来 the cinnamon, it means their palate was sharp enough to identify that specific hidden element among many others.

你能尝出来这个汤里放了什么吗？ (Can you taste [and identify] what was put in this soup?)

In daily Chinese life, food is central to social interaction. Therefore, being able to 尝出来 specific nuances in a meal is often seen as a sign of a refined palate or a deep appreciation for the cook's effort. It is used in kitchens, at dinner parties, and even in professional settings like tea tasting or wine sampling. The negative form, 尝不出来 (cháng bù chū lái), is equally common, used when a flavor is too faint or the person's sense of taste is not sharp enough to distinguish the components.

Contextual Nuance: It is not just about ingredients; it can also be about quality or freshness. You might 尝出来 that the fish is not fresh, or 尝出来 that the water has a metallic tang. It signifies the transition from the physical act of eating to the mental state of knowing.

我一吃就尝出来了，这不是妈妈做的菜。 (As soon as I ate it, I could taste [and tell] that this wasn't my mother's cooking.)

Furthermore, the use of cháng chū lái often implies a level of focus. It suggests that the person is paying attention to the food. In a culture where 'eating' (吃饭) is synonymous with socializing, 'tasting out' the details shows a high level of engagement with the present moment and the craft of the culinary arts.

The grammar of 尝出来 (cháng chū lái) follows the standard rules for potential and resultative complements in Mandarin Chinese. Understanding how to manipulate this structure is key to sounding natural. The most important thing to remember is that 出来 acts as the 'result' of the action 尝.

The Positive Resultative: Structure: [Subject] + [Verb] + [出来] + [Object]. This indicates that the identification was successful. For example: '我尝出来了这种味道' (I have tasted and identified this flavor). The 'le' (了) is often added after '出来' to show completion.

他能尝出来咖啡里的巧克力味。 (He can taste the chocolate notes in the coffee.)

The Negative Potential: Structure: [Subject] + [Verb] + [不] + [出来]. This is incredibly common. It means 'cannot taste it out' or 'unable to identify by tasting.' If you put too much chili in a dish, you might say: '我尝不出来别的味道了' (I can't taste anything else anymore).

Another important variation is the Positive Potential: [Subject] + [Verb] + [得] + [出来]. This means 'is able to taste it out.' For example: '你还得出来这汤里的秘密原料吗？' (Are you able to taste the secret ingredient in this soup?). This form is often used in questions or to express capability.

只有专业的品酒师才能尝得出来这两种酒的区别。 (Only professional wine tasters can taste the difference between these two wines.)

Objects and Placement: Usually, the object (the thing being identified) comes after the entire verb phrase. However, in Chinese, it is very common to use a 'topic-comment' structure where the food is mentioned first: '这个菜，我尝不出来是什么做的' (This dish, I can't taste what it's made of).

Using cháng chū lái correctly requires understanding that it is a sensory-cognitive bridge. You are not just 'tasting' (尝); you are 'tasting until the information comes out' (尝出来). This logic applies to other senses too, like kàn chū lái (to see and identify) or tīng chū lái (to hear and identify).

In the real world, 尝出来 (cháng chū lái) is a staple of Chinese dining etiquette and culinary discourse. You will hear it in various settings, ranging from the humble family dinner table to high-stakes television cooking competitions.

At the Family Dinner Table: Chinese parents often take great pride in their cooking. A mother might ask her child, '你能尝出来我今天在红烧肉里加了什么吗？' (Can you taste what I added to the braised pork today?). If the child correctly identifies a new spice like star anise, it’s a moment of connection. If the child says '尝不出来,' it might lead to a playful lecture about paying attention to the food.

这汤里有生姜，你尝出来了吗？ (There's ginger in this soup, did you taste it?)

In Restaurants and Food Critiques: When diners suspect a restaurant is using low-quality oil or pre-packaged frozen food rather than fresh ingredients, they will often say, '我能尝出来这不是现做的' (I can taste that this isn't freshly made). Professional critics use the term to describe the layering of flavors, such as tasting the 'wok hei' (breath of the wok) in a stir-fry.

On Chinese social media platforms like Douyin or Bilibili, food bloggers (mukbangers and reviewers) frequently use cháng chū lái. During 'blind taste tests' (盲测), a very popular video format, the host will try different brands of milk tea or instant noodles and try to 尝出来 which one is the premium brand. In these videos, you'll hear phrases like '我完全尝不出来区别' (I completely cannot taste the difference).

虽然外表一样，但我能尝出来这是手工包的饺子。 (Although they look the same, I can taste that these are handmade dumplings.)

Finally, in the context of health and medicine, if someone is sick with a cold, they might complain, '我感冒了，什么味道都尝不出来' (I have a cold, I can't taste any flavors at all). This highlights the word's utility in describing the functional state of one's senses.

For English speakers, the primary difficulty with 尝出来 (cháng chū lái) lies in the resultative structure, which doesn't have a direct one-word equivalent in English. Here are the most frequent errors learners make.

Mistake 1: Using '尝' (cháng) alone: Many students say '我尝了它是苹果' to mean 'I tasted it was apple.' This is incorrect. '尝' only describes the physical action of tasting. To express that you identified it as an apple, you MUST use '尝出来'. Correct: '我尝出来它是苹果了.'

Incorrect: 我不尝辣椒。 (I don't taste chili.)
Correct: 我尝不出来辣椒的味道。 (I can't taste the flavor of chili.)

Mistake 2: Confusing '出来' (chū lái) with '到' (dào): '尝到' (cháng dào) means to successfully experience a taste or to 'get to taste' something. '尝出来' (cháng chū lái) means to identify what that taste is. If you '尝到' bitterness, you simply felt the bitterness. If you '尝出来' it's bitter melon, you identified the source. '尝到' is about the experience; '尝出来' is about the recognition.

Mistake 3: Misplacing '了' (le): Learners often put '了' in the middle of the resultative complement, like '尝了出来.' While grammatically possible in very specific contexts, it is almost always '尝出来了' for completed identification or '尝不出来' for inability. Putting '了' after the verb '尝' usually breaks the resultative link.

Another subtle mistake is using cháng chū lái for non-food items. While 'taste' can be metaphorical in English (e.g., 'taste of victory'), in Chinese, cháng chū lái is strictly related to the gustatory sense. You wouldn't 'taste out' a lie; you would 'hear it out' (听出来) or 'see it out' (看出来).

Incorrect: 我尝出来他在骗我。 (I tasted out that he was lying.)
Correct: 我听出来他在骗我。 (I heard [in his voice] that he was lying.)

To truly master 尝出来 (cháng chū lái), it is helpful to compare it with other sensory resultative verbs and synonyms for tasting. Chinese is a language rich in sensory precision.

尝出来 vs. 尝 (cháng): 尝 is just the action. '你尝一下' (Have a taste). 尝出来 is the result. '你尝出来了吗？' (Did you identify the taste?).

尝出来 vs. 闻出来 (wén chū lái): 闻出来 means to identify by smell. Often, these two go together. You might smell the garlic (闻出来) before you even taste it (尝出来). If a dish is very aromatic, you might say '我闻出来了，是咖喱' (I smelled it out, it's curry).

我还没喝，就闻出来这酒不一般。 (I haven't drunk it yet, but I smelled that this wine is extraordinary.)

尝出来 vs. 品 (pǐn): 品 means to savor, sip, or appreciate slowly (as in tea tasting: 品茶). While 尝出来 is about the 'what' (identification), 品 is about the 'how' (the process of appreciation). You '品' the tea to '尝出来' its origin.

尝出来 vs. 辨别 (biàn bié): 辨别 is a more formal verb meaning 'to distinguish' or 'to differentiate.' You might '辨别味道' (distinguish flavors) in a scientific or formal context. 尝出来 is the natural, colloquial way to express the same thing in daily conversation.

In summary, cháng chū lái is your go-to phrase for the 'Aha!' moment of flavor recognition. Use wén chū lái for your nose, kàn chū lái for your eyes, and tīng chū lái for your ears. Together, these 'Verb + 出来' constructions form the backbone of sensory description in Mandarin.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

In ancient times, '尝' was also the name of an autumn sacrifice where the first fruits of the harvest were tasted and offered to ancestors. The 'identification' aspect of '尝出来' mirrors the ritual significance of recognizing the quality of the harvest.

Pronunciation Guide

UK tʃʰɑŋ˧˥ t͡sʰu˥ laɪ˧˥

US tʃɑŋ˧˥ t͡su˥ laɪ˧˥

The primary emphasis in '尝出来' usually falls on the first syllable '尝' (the action) and the second syllable '出' (the result). The 'lái' is often lighter.

Rhymes With

长 (cháng) 场 (chǎng) 初 (chū) 出 (chū) 来 (lái) 排 (pái) 台 (tái) 开 (kāi)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'cháng' as 'chāng' (first tone).
Muffling the 'ch' sound so it sounds like 'sh'.
Forgetting the rising tone on 'lái'.
Failing to aspirate the 'ch' sounds (they need a puff of air).
Pronouncing '出来' as 'chū lèi' by mistake.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

The characters are relatively common, but understanding the resultative structure is key.

Writing 4/5

The character '尝' has many strokes and is slightly difficult to write correctly.

Speaking 3/5

Requires correct tones for three syllables in a row.

Listening 2/5

Usually very clear in context, especially when discussing food.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

尝 (cháng) 出 (chū) 来 (lái) 味道 (wèidào) 什么 (shénme)

Learn Next

分辨 (fēnbiàn) 识别 (shíbié) 感觉 (gǎnjué) 反应 (fǎnyìng) 特色 (tèsè)

Advanced

辨析 (biànxī) 品位 (pǐnwèi) 蕴含 (yùnhán) 层次 (céngcì)

Grammar to Know

Resultative Complements (结果补语)

我听懂了。 (I heard and understood.) vs 我尝出来了。 (I tasted and identified.)

Potential Complements (可能补语)

我尝不出来。 (I cannot taste it out.)

Directional Complements (趋向补语)

他跑出来了。 (He ran out.) vs 他想出来了。 (He thought it out.)

The 'V + 出来' Pattern for Discovery

看出来 (see/realize), 听出来 (hear/identify), 闻出来 (smell/detect).

Topic-Comment Structure

这个味道，我以前尝出来过。 (This flavor, I have tasted and identified before.)

Examples by Level

我尝出来了，这是牛奶。

I tasted it; it is milk.

Uses '尝出来了' to show the identification is finished.

你能尝出来糖吗？

Can you taste the sugar?

Simple question using the verb phrase.

我尝不出来味道。

I can't taste any flavor.

Negative potential form '尝不出来'.

他尝出来了苹果的味道。

He tasted the flavor of apple.

Object '苹果的味道' follows the verb.

你尝出来了吗？

Did you taste [and identify] it?

Common short question in conversation.

我尝不出来这是什么。

I can't taste what this is.

Using a clause as the object.

妈妈尝出来了盐放多了。

Mom tasted that there was too much salt.

Identifying a quality (too much salt).

我一下就尝出来了。

I tasted it immediately.

'一下就' emphasizes the speed of identification.

这个汤里有姜，你尝出来了吗？

There is ginger in this soup, did you taste it?

Identifying a specific ingredient.

我尝不出来这两种水有什么不同。

I can't taste any difference between these two types of water.

Comparing two things with '尝不出来'.

你能尝出来这是哪种茶吗？

Can you taste what kind of tea this is?

Asking for identification of a category.

他尝出来了这菜里没放味精。

He tasted that there was no MSG in this dish.

Identifying the absence of an ingredient.

我尝出来了，这是我最喜欢的巧克力。

I tasted it; this is my favorite chocolate.

Identifying a specific brand or preference.

这鱼不新鲜，我能尝出来。

This fish isn't fresh, I can taste it.

Identifying quality/freshness.

你尝出来这面条里的辣味了吗？

Did you taste the spiciness in these noodles?

Identifying a specific flavor profile.

虽然加了糖，我还是尝出来了苦味。

Although sugar was added, I still tasted the bitterness.

Using '还是' to show identification despite interference.

只有经常喝咖啡的人，才能尝出来豆子的好坏。

Only regular coffee drinkers can taste the quality of the beans.

Using '才能' to indicate a necessary condition for identification.

我尝不出来这个蛋糕里到底放了多少奶油。

I can't taste exactly how much cream was put in this cake.

Using '到底' to express curiosity about the quantity identified.

如果你闭上眼睛，你能尝出来这是什么水果吗？

If you close your eyes, can you taste what fruit this is?

A conditional sentence involving '尝出来'.

他竟然尝出来了汤里那一小勺蜂蜜。

He actually tasted that one small spoonful of honey in the soup.

'竟然' expresses surprise at the ability to identify a subtle ingredient.

这种果汁的味道很杂，我尝不出来主味是什么。

The taste of this juice is very mixed; I can't taste what the main flavor is.

Identifying a 'main flavor' (主味).

我尝出来了，这道菜里用了陈醋而不是新醋。

I tasted it; this dish uses aged vinegar instead of fresh vinegar.

Identifying a specific type of an ingredient.

你尝得出来这酒里淡淡的花香吗？

Can you taste the faint floral aroma in this wine?

Using the potential form '尝得出来'.

我一喝就尝出来这水里有漂白粉的味道。

As soon as I drank it, I tasted the flavor of bleach in the water.

Immediate identification using '一...就...'.

美食家能从复杂的调料中尝出来食材的原汁原味。

A gourmet can taste the original flavor of the ingredients amidst complex seasonings.

Identifying 'original flavor' (原汁原味).

如果不看包装，普通人很难尝出来名牌水和自来水的区别。

Without looking at the packaging, it's hard for ordinary people to taste the difference between brand-name water and tap water.

Discussing the difficulty of identification.

他尝出来了这道红烧肉是用慢火炖了三个小时的结果。

He tasted that this braised pork was the result of three hours of slow simmering.

Identifying a cooking method through taste.

即使是在这么辣的情况下，你还能尝出来肉的鲜甜吗？

Even when it's this spicy, can you still taste the fresh sweetness of the meat?

Using '即使...还...' to challenge identification skills.

我尝出来了，这面条里揉进了鸭蛋，所以口感才这么劲道。

I tasted it; duck eggs were kneaded into these noodles, which is why the texture is so chewy.

Linking taste identification to texture and ingredients.

很多老烟民其实尝不出来高档烟和普通烟的细微差别。

Many long-term smokers actually can't taste the subtle differences between high-end and regular cigarettes.

Identifying 'subtle differences' (细微差别).

你竟然能尝出来这汤里放了肉桂，你的舌头真灵！

You could actually taste the cinnamon in this soup; your tongue is really sharp!

Complimenting someone's sense of taste.

我尝出来了，这酱汁里有一股淡淡的烟熏味。

I tasted it; there is a faint smoky flavor in this sauce.

Identifying a specific attribute like 'smoky flavor' (烟熏味).

资深的品茗者能从茶汤中尝出来茶叶采摘的季节和海拔。

Experienced tea tasters can taste the season and altitude of the tea leaf harvest from the tea liquor.

Identifying abstract origins through taste.

这道菜的层次感极强，初入口时是酸甜，随后便能尝出来深沉的咸鲜。

This dish has great layers; the initial taste is sweet and sour, followed by a deep savory-saltiness that can be tasted out.

Describing a temporal sequence of identification.

尽管香料掩盖了一部分，但敏锐的食客依然能尝出来食材略显不洁的气息。

Although spices masked part of it, keen diners can still taste the slightly unclean aura of the ingredients.

Identifying negative qualities despite masking.

他闭目沉思良久，终于尝出来了那抹稍纵即逝的松露香。

He closed his eyes and meditated for a long time, finally tasting that fleeting hint of truffle aroma.

Describing a difficult and deliberate identification process.

有些酒评家声称能尝出来橡木桶存放的年限，这未免有些夸大其词。

Some wine critics claim they can taste the number of years spent in oak barrels, which is perhaps a bit of an exaggeration.

Discussing the limits of '尝出来' in professional contexts.

我尝出来了这汤底是用老母鸡和干贝吊出来的，火候恰到好处。

I tasted that this soup base was made from old hen and dried scallops, simmered to perfection.

Identifying complex preparation methods.

在这个工业化时代，能尝出来泥土气息的蔬菜已经越来越难得了。

In this industrial age, vegetables where you can taste the 'breath of the earth' are becoming increasingly rare.

Identifying metaphorical or subtle qualities like 'earthy breath' (泥土气息).

你若是细心品味，便能尝出来这道甜品中蕴含的匠心独运。

If you savor it carefully, you can taste the unique ingenuity contained within this dessert.

Using '尝出来' to identify abstract concepts like 'ingenuity' (匠心独运).

在这一盏茶中，他仿佛尝出来了故乡春雨后的那一抹清幽与哀愁。

In this cup of tea, he seemed to taste the faint serenity and sorrow after a spring rain in his hometown.

Literary use identifying complex emotions and memories.

真正的老饕，不仅能尝出来食材的优劣，更能尝出来厨师在烹饪时的一心一意。

A true gourmet can not only taste the quality of the ingredients but also the chef's single-minded devotion during cooking.

Identifying the 'spirit' or 'intent' of the cook.

这种陈年普洱，非得是浸淫此道数十年的人，方能尝出来那股子‘陈韵’。

This aged Pu'er tea requires someone who has been immersed in this path for decades to be able to taste that 'aged charm'.

Identifying highly specialized cultural attributes ('陈韵').

他从那略带涩味的酒液中，竟尝出来了酒庄主当年在葡萄园里挥洒的汗水与希望。

From that slightly astringent wine, he actually tasted the sweat and hope the winery owner shed in the vineyard back then.

Deeply metaphorical identification of history and effort.

即便是在最平凡的家常菜里，他也能尝出来岁月的沉淀与亲情的厚重。

Even in the most ordinary home-cooked dishes, he could taste the accumulation of years and the weight of family affection.

Identifying existential and emotional qualities through taste.

那是一种无法言说的味道，你只能亲自去尝，方能尝出来其中的奥妙。

That is an unspeakable taste; you must taste it personally to be able to taste out the mysteries within.

Emphasizing the personal nature of sensory identification.

当味觉与灵魂共鸣时，你能尝出来的已不再是单纯的滋味，而是生命的百态。

When taste resonates with the soul, what you can taste is no longer simple flavors, but the various states of life.

Philosophical expansion of the verb's meaning.

这种极端的苦，让他尝出来了绝处逢生后的那一丝不易察觉的甘甜。

This extreme bitterness allowed him to taste that barely perceptible sweetness after surviving a desperate situation.

Using taste as a metaphor for life's struggles and rewards.

Common Collocations

尝出来味道

尝出来区别

尝出来配料

尝出来不新鲜

尝出来秘密

尝出来甜味

完全尝不出来

一下就尝出来

慢慢尝出来

尝出来好坏

Common Phrases

你能尝出来吗？

— Can you taste it? (Used to challenge someone to identify an ingredient.)

我加了点柠檬，你能尝出来吗？

我尝不出来。

— I can't tell/taste it. (A common response when a flavor is too subtle.)

对不起，我真的尝不出来区别。

一下就尝出来了。

— Tasted it immediately. (Used when a flavor is very obvious.)

这糖放得太多了，我一下就尝出来了。

尝出来不对劲。

— Tasted that something was wrong. (Used for spoiled food or odd flavors.)

这牛奶尝出来有点不对劲，别喝了。

尝出来是谁做的。

— To taste who cooked it. (Recognizing a person's specific cooking style.)

我一吃就能尝出来这是奶奶做的面。

尝出来家的味道。

— To taste the 'taste of home'. (A nostalgic phrase.)

在这家餐厅，我尝出来了家的味道。

尝出来苦味。

— To detect bitterness. (Often used for coffee, tea, or medicine.)

这药虽然甜，但还是能尝出来苦味。

尝出来新鲜感。

— To taste the freshness. (Used for high-quality produce.)

这些蔬菜你能尝出来新鲜感。

尝出来层次感。

— To taste the layers of flavor. (Used in gourmet contexts.)

高端的红酒能让你尝出来层次感。

尝出来不同。

— To taste the difference. (Standard comparison phrase.)

我真的尝不出来这两种可乐有什么不同。

Often Confused With

尝出来 vs 尝到

尝到 (cháng dào) means to experience a taste, while 尝出来 (cháng chū lái) means to identify what that taste is.

尝出来 vs 品尝

品尝 (pǐn cháng) is the formal verb for 'to taste/sample', focusing on the act of savoring, whereas 尝出来 is about the result of identification.

尝出来 vs 吃出来

吃出来 (chī chū lái) is more colloquial and usually refers to solid food, while 尝出来 is more precise about the flavor itself.

Idioms & Expressions

"五味杂陈"

— A mixture of five flavors; metaphorically, a complex mix of emotions.

看到老友，他心里五味杂陈，仿佛尝出来了人生的酸甜苦辣。

Literary

"回味无穷"

— Leaving a lasting pleasant aftertaste; thought-provoking.

这道菜回味无穷，你能尝出来其中深藏的韵味。

Common

"别有风味"

— To have a unique or distinctive flavor/style.

这种做法让豆腐尝出来别有风味。

Common

"津津有味"

— To eat with great relish or gusto.

他吃得津津有味，似乎尝出来了什么了不得的美味。

Common

"酸甜苦辣"

— Sour, sweet, bitter, hot; the joys and sorrows of life.

这一碗粥里，他尝出来了生活的酸甜苦辣。

Metaphorical

"原汁原味"

— Authentic flavor; original and pure.

清蒸鱼能让你尝出来海鲜的原汁原味。

Common

"食而不知其味"

— To eat without tasting; to be distracted or uninterested.

他心里有事，吃什么都尝不出来，真是食而不知其味。

Formal

"淡而无味"

— Bland and tasteless.

这汤没放盐，尝出来淡而无味。

Common

"耐人寻味"

— Affording food for thought; intriguing.

他的话里似乎能尝出来一些耐人寻味的意思。

Literary/Metaphorical

"味同嚼蜡"

— Tasting like chewing wax; completely uninteresting.

没有盐的肉吃起来简直尝不出来味道，味同嚼蜡。

Literary

Easily Confused

尝出来 vs 尝试

Both start with '尝'.

尝试 (cháng shì) means to try or attempt to do something (like a new hobby), while 尝出来 is strictly about sensory taste.

我想尝试学中文，但我尝不出来这汤里的味道。

尝出来 vs 看出来

Both use the '出来' resultative complement.

看出来 (kàn chū lái) is identification by sight, while 尝出来 is by taste.

我能看出来他不开心，但我尝不出来这咖啡是苦的。

尝出来 vs 闻出来

Both are sensory identification.

闻出来 (wén chū lái) is by smell.

我闻出来那是花香，但我尝不出来那是什么花做的茶。

尝出来 vs 想出来

Both involve 'finding out' something.

想出来 (xiǎng chū lái) is a mental process of creating an idea.

我想出来了一个办法，但我尝不出来这个菜的配方。

尝出来 vs 说出来

说出来 (shuō chū lái) means to speak one's mind or reveal a secret verbally.

请把你的想法说出来，就像你尝出来这菜里的盐一样。

Sentence Patterns

我尝出来了，这是[Food/Flavor]。

我尝出来了，这是西瓜。

你能尝出来[Ingredient]吗？

你能尝出来辣椒吗？

我尝不出来[A]和[B]的区别。

我尝不出来红茶和绿茶的区别。

他竟然能尝出来[Subtle Detail]。

他竟然能尝出来这汤里放了酒。

虽然[Interference]，但我还是能尝出来[Target]。

虽然很咸，但我还是能尝出来肉的鲜味。

[Food]里有一种我尝不出来的味道。

这蛋糕里有一种我尝不出来的味道。

只有[Condition]，才能尝出来[Complex Quality]。

只有经常品酒的人，才能尝出来这款酒的年份。

在[Context]中，他仿佛尝出来了[Abstract Concept]。

在这碗面中，他仿佛尝出来了童年的回忆。

Word Family

Nouns

味道 (wèidào - flavor)

味觉 (wèijué - sense of taste)

尝膳 (chángshàn - tasting food for an emperor)

Verbs

尝 (cháng - to taste)

品尝 (pǐncháng - to savor/sample)

尝试 (chángshì - to try/attempt)

尝鲜 (chángxiān - to try something fresh/new)

Adjectives

好尝 (hǎocháng - easy to taste/good tasting)

难尝 (náncháng - hard to taste)

看出来 (kàn chū lái - to see and identify)

听出来 (tīng chū lái - to hear and identify)

闻出来 (wén chū lái - to smell and identify)

摸出来 (mō chū lái - to feel and identify)

想出来 (xiǎng chū lái - to think of/come up with)

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely common in daily life, especially during meals.

Common Mistakes

Using '尝' alone to mean 'identify.' → 我尝出来了这是苹果。
'尝' is just the action of tasting. You need '出来' to show you identified what it is.
Saying '尝了出来' instead of '尝出来了.' → 我尝出来了。
'了' usually goes at the end of the entire resultative verb phrase to show completion.
Using '尝出来' for visual identification. → 我能看出来他在生气。
'尝出来' is only for taste. Use '看出来' for things you see.
Confusing '尝出来' with '尝到'. → 我尝出来了这个菜里有盐。
'尝到' is about experiencing the sensation; '尝出来' is about identifying the source or ingredient.
Using '尝不出来' with a '了' to mean past tense. → 我尝不出来。
Potential forms like '尝不出来' don't use '了' to indicate past tense; they describe a state of inability.

Tips

Master the 'V + 不 + 出来' Pattern

This is a very common way to express inability to identify something. Practice it with '看' (see), '听' (hear), and '尝' (taste) to build a strong foundation in Mandarin resultative complements.

Complimenting the Chef

If you want to impress a Chinese host, try saying '我尝出来了，这里面有[Ingredient]!' It shows you are an appreciative and attentive guest who values their cooking.

Use with Flavors

Pair '尝出来' with the five basic tastes: 酸 (suān - sour), 甜 (tián - sweet), 苦 (kǔ - bitter), 辣 (là - spicy), 咸 (xián - salty).

The Tone of 'Lái'

In the phrase '尝出来', the 'lái' is often pronounced very lightly. Don't over-emphasize the second tone unless you are speaking very slowly and formally.

Contextual Clues

If you hear 'cháng' followed by 'chū lái', even if you don't hear the middle part clearly, the speaker is almost certainly talking about identifying a flavor.

Character Practice

The character '尝' (cháng) has a 'roof' radical on top and a 'cloud' (云) component below. It’s useful to practice writing it as it appears in many common food-related words.

Contrast with 'Look'

A great way to practice is to compare: '我看不出来，但我尝出来了。' (I couldn't tell by looking, but I identified it by tasting.)

Potential vs Resultative

Remember: '尝出来了' = 'I did it.' '尝得出来' = 'I can do it.' '尝不出来' = 'I can't do it.'

Blind Taste Tests

Use this word when playing games or doing food challenges with friends. It’s the perfect vocabulary for that specific scenario.

Nuance of 'Identify'

Understand that '尝出来' implies a transition from 'not knowing' to 'knowing.' It’s the 'Aha!' moment of the tongue.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine your tongue is a detective. You '尝' (taste) the food, and the secret ingredient '出来' (comes out) of its hiding place to surrender to your brain.

Visual Association

Picture a magnifying glass over a bowl of soup, but instead of a glass, it's a giant tongue. As the tongue touches the soup, a little label saying 'GINGER' pops out of the bowl.

Word Web

Taste (尝) Out (出) Come (来) Identify (辨别) Flavor (味道) Ingredient (配料) Tongue (舌头) Secret (秘密)

Challenge

Go to your kitchen, close your eyes, and have a friend give you a small sample of a spice or sauce. Try to '尝出来' what it is and say the sentence: '我尝出来了，这是...' out loud.

Word Origin

The character 尝 (cháng) originally depicted a person tasting food from a vessel. In ancient Chinese, it meant to sample or to offer as a sacrifice. The complement 出来 (chū lái) developed later as Mandarin evolved its complex system of resultative and directional verbs. '出来' indicates movement from an internal or hidden state to an external or visible state.

Original meaning: To taste so that the identity of the substance emerges.

Sino-Tibetan (Mandarin Chinese).

Cultural Context

Be careful when saying '我尝不出来' (I can't taste anything) to a cook, as it might imply their food is bland, unless you are explaining that you have a cold.

English speakers often just say 'I can taste the...' whereas Chinese speakers emphasize the 'discovery' aspect with '出来'.

MasterChef China (顶级厨师) frequently features blind taste tests where contestants must '尝出来' ingredients. The movie 'Eat Drink Man Woman' (饮食男女) depicts the loss of the sense of taste, where the father can no longer '尝出来' his own cooking. Tea culture rituals often involve asking guests if they can '尝出来' the specific mountain where the tea grew.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Cooking and Kitchen

尝出来咸淡 (taste the saltiness)
尝出来熟没熟 (taste if it's cooked)
尝出来少了什么 (taste what's missing)
尝出来火候 (taste the cooking level)

Restaurants

尝出来招牌菜 (taste the signature dish)
尝出来地道 (taste the authenticity)
尝出来添加剂 (taste additives)
尝出来特色 (taste the specialty)

Health/Sickness

尝不出来甜咸 (can't taste sweet or salty)
舌头麻了尝不出来 (tongue is numb, can't taste)
慢慢恢复尝出来味道 (slowly recovering taste)
尝出来苦药味 (taste the bitter medicine)

Wine/Tea Tasting

尝出来年份 (taste the vintage)
尝出来产区 (taste the region)
尝出来果香 (taste the fruit aroma)
尝出来单宁 (taste the tannins)

Social Gatherings

让大家尝出来惊喜 (let everyone taste the surprise)
尝出来心意 (taste the thoughtfulness)
你肯定尝不出来 (you definitely won't taste it)
谁能尝出来这是什么 (who can taste what this is)

Conversation Starters

"你能尝出来这汤里放了什么特殊的香料吗？ (Can you taste what special spice is in this soup?)"

"我总觉得这道菜的味道有点奇怪，你尝出来了吗？ (I always feel the taste of this dish is a bit strange; did you taste it?)"

"你能尝出来名牌可乐和超市自有品牌可乐的区别吗？ (Can you taste the difference between brand-name cola and supermarket brand cola?)"

"如果我不告诉你，你能尝出来这是素肉吗？ (If I didn't tell you, could you taste that this is vegetarian meat?)"

"你最近感冒好点了吗？能尝出来味道了吗？ (Is your cold better lately? Can you taste flavors yet?)"

Journal Prompts

描述一次你尝出来某种‘秘密食材’的经历。当时是什么菜？你是怎么尝出来的？ (Describe an experience where you tasted a 'secret ingredient.' What dish was it? How did you taste it out?)

你认为一个人的味觉是可以训练的吗？你希望能尝出来哪些细微的味道？ (Do you think a person's sense of taste can be trained? What subtle flavors do you wish you could taste out?)

写一写你最喜欢的家乡菜，以及你从中能尝出来的‘家的味道’。 (Write about your favorite home dish and the 'taste of home' you can taste in it.)

如果你失去了味觉，什么都尝不出来，你的生活会发生什么变化？ (If you lost your sense of taste and couldn't taste anything, how would your life change?)

记录一次在餐厅吃饭时，你尝出来食材不新鲜或者味道不对的瞬间。 (Record a moment at a restaurant where you tasted that ingredients weren't fresh or the flavor was wrong.)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, '尝出来' is strictly for the sense of taste. For other senses, you would use '看出来' (sight), '听出来' (hearing), or '闻出来' (smell). In English, we sometimes say 'I can taste the irony,' but in Chinese, you wouldn't use '尝出来' for metaphorical concepts like irony unless you are being very poetic.

'尝到' (cháng dào) focuses on the experience of getting to taste something or hitting a flavor. For example, '我尝到了苦味' means 'I experienced bitterness.' '尝出来' (cháng chū lái) focuses on identification. '我尝出来了这是苦瓜' means 'I identified (by tasting) that this is bitter melon.'

It is grammatically possible but rare. Usually, you say '尝出来了' (completed identification) or '尝不出来' (unable to identify). If you say '尝了出来', it sounds like you are emphasizing the action of tasting which then led to the identification, but it's much more natural to put '了' at the very end.

'吃出来' (chī chū lái) is very similar and often interchangeable in casual speech. However, '吃出来' implies you are eating/chewing a meal, while '尝出来' focuses specifically on the flavor profile. You would use '尝出来' for a tiny sip of wine, but you might use '吃出来' for a piece of meat in a dumpling.

The most natural way is '我感冒了，什么味道都尝不出来' (I have a cold, I can't taste any flavors). This uses the negative potential form '尝不出来'.

It is neutral. It's perfectly fine to use with your boss at a dinner, with your grandmother at home, or in a written food review. It's the standard way to express this concept.

Yes, absolutely. You can '尝出来' the components of a cocktail, the type of tea, or whether water is tap or bottled. For drinks, some people also use '喝出来' (hē chū lái), which is more specific to the act of drinking.

This means 'As soon as I tasted it, I identified it.' The '一...就...' structure emphasizes that the identification was immediate and easy.

In very high-level literature, you might see someone '尝出来' the 'bitterness of life' (人生的苦涩), but in 99% of daily conversations, it is literal and sensory.

You can say: '你能尝出来这是什么吗？' (Nǐ néng cháng chū lái zhè shì shénme ma?)