酢
The Japanese word for a sour liquid used for seasoning or preserving food is 酢.
酢 refers to vinegar, a sour liquid used to season or preserve food.
Did you know?
- The word 酢 appears in the common idiom 酢になる 'su ni naru', which literally means 'to become vinegar' but describes someone becoming grumpy or sour-faced.
- There is a regional variety called 黒酢 'kurozu' or black vinegar, which is aged for years and is often consumed as a health tonic rather than just a seasoning.
- The word 酢 is the core of the word 寿司 'sushi'. While 'sushi' now refers to the whole dish, the word originally described the sour taste of the fermented rice produced by 酢.
Examples in context
- この料理には酢が必要です。Kono ryōri ni wa su ga hitsuyō desu.Vinegar is necessary for this dish.
- お寿司を作るには酢を使います。Osushi o tsukuru ni wa su o tsukaimasu.We use vinegar to make sushi.
- 酢の香りがとても強いですね。Su no kaori ga totemo tsuyoi desu ne.The smell of the vinegar is very strong.
Example conversation
In the kitchen while preparing lunch.
- 陽太 Yota酢はどこにありますか？Su wa doko ni arimasu ka?Where is the vinegar?
- 美咲 Misaki棚の中にありますよ。Tana no naka ni arimasu yo.It is in the cupboard.
- 陽太 Yotaありがとうございます。Arigatō gozaimasu.Thank you.
- 美咲 Misaki料理を頑張ってくださいね。Ryōri o ganbatte kudasai ne.Good luck with your cooking.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 酢, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
