醋
cou³
The Cantonese word for vinegar is 醋 (cou³).
醋 is a noun used to refer to the condiment.
Meaning: condiment (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
cou³
Did you know?
- The phrase 食醋 (literally 'eating vinegar') is a common slang term meaning that someone is suffering from jealousy.
- In traditional Cantonese medicine and folk beliefs, certain types of 醋 are thought to balance the body's 'yin' and 'yang' when added to medicinal soups.
- The expression 醋缸 refers to a 'vinegar jar' and is used to describe a person who is habitually jealous and prone to suspicion.
Examples in context
- 我鍾意加啲醋喺湯入面。ngo5 zung1 ji3 gaa1 di1 co3 hei2 tong1 jap6 min6.I like to add some vinegar in the soup.
Example conversation
Jun Kit and Ya Ting are preparing a salad together in the kitchen.
- 俊傑 Chun Kit雅婷，你見唔見啲醋喺邊個位？aa2 ting4, nei5 gin3 m4 gin3 di1 cu3 hai2 bin1 go3 wai2?Ya Ting, do you see where the vinegar is?
- 雅婷 Nga Ting喺個櫃入面，就喺鹽隔離。hai2 go3 gwai3 jap6 min6, zau6 hai2 jim4 gaak6 lei4.It's in the cabinet, right next to the salt.
- 俊傑 Chun Kit多謝，我想用醋嚟調味。do1 ze6, ngo5 soeng2 jung6 cu3 lei4 tiu4 mei6.Thanks, I want to use vinegar for seasoning.
- 雅婷 Nga Ting好啊，記得唔好加太多。hou2 aa3, gei3 dak1 m4 hou2 gaa1 tai3 do1.Okay, remember not to add too much.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “vinegar” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
