酱油

• Pinyin: jiàng yóu
• Hanzi breakdown: 酱 = fermented sauce; 油 = 氵(water) + 由, oil/liquid

Meaning

Soy sauce; a fermented sauce made from soybeans.

An essential seasoning in Chinese cuisine made from fermented soybeans. Different types include 生抽 (light soy sauce) and 老抽 (dark soy sauce). Also used in the internet slang 打酱油 (meaning 'just passing by' or 'not involved').

Examples

1. 炒菜的时候加点酱油可以让菜的颜色更好看。 Adding some soy sauce when stir-frying can make the dish look better.
2. 日本的酱油和中国的口味略有不同，各有特色。 Japanese soy sauce tastes slightly different from Chinese soy sauce — each has its own characteristics.
3. 有人问他对这件事怎么看，他说自己只是打酱油的。 When someone asked his opinion on this matter, he said he was just passing by.

Usage Guide

Context: cooking, food, internet slang

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 这道菜需要放点酱油调味。(This dish needs some soy sauce for seasoning.)
• 我只是来打酱油的，别问我。(I'm just passing through; don't ask me.)

Don't Say

• 混淆酱油的种类 (生抽 is for flavor, 老抽 is for color — they have different uses)

Origin & History

Compound of 酱 (sauce) + 油 (oil). Literally 'sauce oil,' referring to the liquid fermented sauce.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal