酸奶

• Pinyin: suān nǎi
• Hanzi breakdown: 酸 = 酉 (wine jar) + 夋 (phonetic), meaning sour; 奶 = 女 (woman) + 乃 (phonetic), meaning milk

Meaning

Yogurt. A fermented dairy product with a sour taste.

Refers to yogurt of all types — plain, flavoured, drinking yogurt, or thick-set yogurt. Very popular in China and commonly sold in supermarkets and convenience stores. Considered a healthy food choice.

Examples

1. 我每天早上都会喝一杯酸奶。 I drink a cup of yogurt every morning.
2. 冰箱里还有两盒酸奶，你要喝吗？ There are still two boxes of yogurt in the fridge; do you want some?
3. 这个牌子的酸奶味道特别好。 This brand of yogurt tastes especially good.

Usage Guide

Context: food, everyday, health

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 饭后喝酸奶有助于消化。(Drinking yogurt after meals helps with digestion.)
• 她喜欢往酸奶里加一点水果。(She likes to add a bit of fruit to her yogurt.)

Don't Say

• 我要一杯热酸奶。(Yogurt is typically served cold — heating it destroys the probiotics. This request would sound unusual.)

Origin & History

Compound of 酸 (sour) and 奶 (milk), literally 'sour milk.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal