chua
/t͡ɕuə˧˧/adjective★Intermediate— 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