cou3醋

Jyutpingcou3

Yalechou

名詞Common

Definition

Vinegar; a sour liquid seasoning made by fermentation.

colloquialfood

How it's used

Beyond its culinary use, the term is central to the idiom 食醋, which metaphorically describes someone feeling jealous in a romantic context. This usage mirrors the English expression green with envy, though it specifically relates to romantic possessiveness. When referring to the condiment itself, it is almost always paired with a specific type like 白醋 or 黑醋 to avoid ambiguity.

Measure word

zeon1樽jēun

Examples

le1呢dip2碟gaau2餃zi2子jiu3要m4唔jiu3要gaa1加di1啲cou3醋aa4呀？

Do you want to add some vinegar to this plate of dumplings?

keoi5佢sik6食can1親min6麵dou1都zung1鍾ji3意lok6落hou2好do1多cou3醋。

Whenever they eat noodles, they like to add a lot of vinegar.

Common phrases

baak6白cou3醋

white vinegar

haak1黑cou3醋

black vinegar

to be jealous

Common mistake

Learners often confuse the literal condiment with the metaphorical sense of jealousy. Ensure the context clearly indicates whether you are talking about seasoning food or describing someone's emotional state.