辣

• Pinyin: là
• Hanzi breakdown: 辣 = 辛 (pungent radical) + 束 (phonetic component meaning bundle)

Meaning

Spicy; hot (taste). Describes a pungent, burning sensation from chilli or similar ingredients.

辣 is central to Chinese food culture, particularly in Sichuan (四川) and Hunan (湖南) cuisine. Beyond food, it is used figuratively to describe a sharp, fierce character (辣手 means ruthless or tricky). The informal slang 辣眼睛 can also mean something is visually garish or hard to look at.

Examples

1. 这道菜太辣了，我的嘴已经麻了。 This dish is so spicy — my mouth is already numb.
2. 她从小在四川长大，特别能吃辣。 She grew up in Sichuan and can handle very spicy food.
3. 你不能吃辣的话，就点清淡一点的菜吧。 If you can't eat spicy food, order something milder.

Usage Guide

Context: food, everyday, description

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 你能吃辣吗？这道菜比较辣。(Can you eat spicy food? This dish is quite hot.)
• 四川火锅真的很辣，但非常好吃。(Sichuan hot pot is really spicy, but absolutely delicious.)

Don't Say

• 今天太阳太辣了 (Don't use 辣 for physical heat like sunlight — use 热 for temperature and 烫 for hot surfaces; 辣 is specifically the spicy flavour sensation)

Origin & History

辣 is composed of 辛 (the pungent radical, associated with spicy flavours and hardship) and 束 (bundle, phonetic component). 辛 already conveys pungency, and 辣 reinforces this with a specific focus on chilli heat.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal