chua
/t͡ɕuə˧˧/Sour or acidic in taste
Trái chua rất tốt cho sức khỏe.
Sour fruits are very good for health.
Commonly used to describe the taste of fruits like lemons, tamarind, or unripe mangoes.
Bitter or unpleasant in a non-taste context (figurative)
Câu chuyện đó có một kết thúc chua.
That story has a bitter ending.
Used metaphorically to describe emotional experiences.
Collocations
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Phrases
💡Pro Tip
Taste Descriptions
In Vietnamese, 'chua' is often paired with other taste descriptors like 'cay' (spicy) or 'ngọt' (sweet) to describe complex flavors.
⚡Gold Rule
Literal vs. Figurative
While 'chua' primarily describes taste, it can also metaphorically describe emotional experiences, similar to 'bitter' in English.
📖Word Origin
From Proto-Vietic *tɕuə (sour), related to other Austroasiatic languages.
📝Usage Notes
Often used to describe taste but can also describe emotional states in a figurative sense.