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chua
/t͡ɕuə˧˧/
sour
Trái cam chua lắm.
The orange is very sour.
informal
Having a sharp, acidic taste; not sweet.
Nước chanh chua quá, không thể uống được.
The lemonade is too sour to drink.
Commonly used to describe the taste of fruits, drinks, or food.
informal
Unpleasant or harsh in a non-literal sense (e.g., words, experiences).
Câu trả lời của anh ấy nghe chua lắm.
His answer sounded very harsh.
Used metaphorically to describe something emotionally unpleasant.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Literal vs. Figurative Use
'Chua' is primarily used for taste, but can also describe harsh words or experiences.
Gold Rule
Common Collocations
Pair 'chua' with 'cay' (spicy) or 'ngọt' (sweet) for common flavor descriptions.
Word Origin
From Proto-Vietic *tɕuə, related to the sensation of sourness.
Usage Notes
Can be used both literally (taste) and metaphorically (emotional tone).
Từ Điển Việt Anh