Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
发酵 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
发酵fājiàoto fermentHSK 7, unknown, 19 strokes, rank #24985, Very Hard
发酵fājiàofermentationHSK 7, unknown, 19 strokes, rank #24985, Very Hard
fājiào(fa1jiao4) T1
  1. 1to ferment
  2. 2fermentation
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

发酵(發酵)fājiào(fa1jiao4)

发酵 (fā jiào) refers to the process of fermentation, where microorganisms such as yeast or bacteria convert sugars into alcohol or acids. This term is commonly used in food production, such as in brewing beer or making yogurt, and has implications in both culinary and scientific contexts.

Strokes19Frequency#24985DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

Fermentation is a crucial part of Chinese cuisine, especially in the production of traditional foods like soy sauce and fermented tofu, highlighting the importance of this process in both flavor and preservation.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'fa' (发)ir that 'jiao' (酵) is bubbling with excitement as it transforms sweet grapes into wine. The character 发 (fa) looks like something is starting to spread out, and 酵 (jiao) has a 'bubbling' component, suggesting a lively fermentation process.

Meanings of 发酵

fājiào(fa1jiao4)
1to ferment
2fermentation
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 发酵 means.

About 发酵

发酵Simplified
發酵Traditional
19Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

Podcast: 发酵

JasonAmy

Podcast: 发酵

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 发酵

Quick Contrast

发酵 (ferment) vs 酿造 (brew) — use 发酵 when focusing on the fermentation process itself, while 酿造 emphasizes the overall brewing or production process.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 发酵 with similar terms like 变质 (biàn zhì), which means spoilage. This word can be used in both formal and informal settings, especially in culinary discussions. Remember that 发酵 is often paired with food-related words, like 面包 (miàn bāo, bread) or 酵母 (jiào mǔ, yeast).

HSK Study Tips

While 发酵 is not a specific HSK word, it connects with food vocabulary at HSK 3 and above. Students should focus on related terms in cooking and science to deepen their understanding and make connections with other HSK vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 发酵 in contexts unrelated to food, leading to confusion. For instance, saying '发酵' for a chemical reaction not involving fermentation is incorrect; use 化学反应 (huà xué fǎn yìng) instead.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 发酵

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 发酵 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Jason Explains 发酵 to You

Let me explain 发酵 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 发酵 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

Component Characters

发fāto send out
HSK 35 strokes又
View full entry
酵jiàoyeast; to leaven
14 strokes酉
View full entry

How to say to ferment in Chinese

“to ferment” in Chinese is发酵fājiào

发酵 (fā jiào) refers to the process of fermentation, where microorganisms such as yeast or bacteria convert sugars into alcohol or acids. This term is commonly used in food production, such as in brewing beer or making yogurt, and has implications in both culinary and scientific contexts.

When to use 发酵

Be careful not to confuse 发酵 with similar terms like 变质 (biàn zhì), which means spoilage. This word can be used in both formal and informal settings, especially in culinary discussions. Remember that 发酵 is often paired with food-related words, like 面包 (miàn bāo, bread) or 酵母 (jiào mǔ, yeast).

发酵 or something close to it

发酵 (ferment) vs 酿造 (brew) — use 发酵 when focusing on the fermentation process itself, while 酿造 emphasizes the overall brewing or production process.

What learners get wrong

Learners often misuse 发酵 in contexts unrelated to food, leading to confusion. For instance, saying '发酵' for a chemical reaction not involving fermentation is incorrect; use 化学反应 (huà xué fǎn yìng) instead.

Write 发酵

发
酵

Practice writing 发酵 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 发酵?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

Frequently Asked Questions about 发酵

In cooking, 发酵 refers to the fermentation process that enhances flavors and preserves food.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 发酵?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.