Meanings of 酱油
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 酱油
Podcast: 酱油
Podcast: 酱油
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 酱油
酱油 (soy sauce) vs 醋 (vinegar) — choose 酱油 for a soy-based flavor enhancer, while 醋 is for a sour taste.
Imagine a jar of soy sauce with a label that reads "jiàngyóu". The character 酱 (jiàng) resembles a pot bubbling with flavor, while 油 (yóu) suggests the oily texture of the sauce. Picture yourself pouring this savory liquid over your favorite fried rice, and you'll remember its use and pronunciation!
Be careful not to confuse 酱油 with other types of sauces, such as 辣酱 (làjiàng) which means chili sauce. This word is typically used in both informal and formal settings, but when discussing it in a restaurant context, ensure you specify whether you want light or dark soy sauce. The tone pronunciation is crucial; mispronouncing it might lead to misunderstandings.
As an HSK 5 word, 酱油 connects with other culinary terms and ingredients you may encounter at this level, such as 食物 (shíwù - food) and 调味料 (tiáowèi liào - seasoning). Focus on using it in sentences about cooking or dining to reinforce your vocabulary.
Soy sauce is a staple in Chinese cooking and is often used in traditional dishes like stir-fries and marinades. Its rich history dates back thousands of years, and it is integral to various regional cuisines across China.
Learners often mistakenly write 酱油 as 酱油 (jiāngyóu) with the first tone, which is incorrect. The correct pronunciation is jiàngyóu, with the fourth tone for 酱.
Pronunciation of 酱油
Drill the tone of 酱油 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Component Characters
Write 酱油
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 酱油 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 酱油
酱油 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
又甜又辣: 红辣椒 、 ____和姜制成的酱,很刺激.
Sweet meets heat: A chili pepper, soy and ginger sauce.
Example Sentences for 酱油 (3)
Cultural Notes for 酱油
Soy sauce is a staple in Chinese cooking and is often used in traditional dishes like stir-fries and marinades. Its rich history dates back thousands of years, and it is integral to various regional cuisines across China.
In Western cuisine, soy sauce is also popular, but it is often used more as a dipping sauce rather than a cooking ingredient, which contrasts with its central role in Chinese dishes.
Frequently Asked Questions about 酱油
Light soy sauce is saltier and used for seasoning, while dark soy sauce is thicker, sweeter, and adds color to dishes.