吃醋

• Pinyin: chī cù
• Hanzi breakdown: 吃 (eat) + 醋 (vinegar) -> jealousy that tastes sour.

Meaning

To feel jealous, especially in romance.

It can be serious or playful depending on tone. In casual speech, it often describes mild jealousy when someone feels neglected.

Examples

1. 他看到那条消息，有点吃醋了。 He saw that message and got a bit jealous.
2. 别吃醋，我只是和同事聊天。 Don't be jealous; I'm just chatting with a colleague.
3. 她嘴上说没事，其实在吃醋。 She says she's fine, but she's actually jealous.

Usage Guide

Context: dating, friends, daily conversation

Tone: jealous, sometimes playful

Do Say

• 他有点吃醋，但没有发脾气。（He felt a little jealous but did not lose his temper.）
• 你是在吃醋吗？（Are you jealous?）

Don't Say

• 把控制欲包装成只是吃醋。（Jealousy does not excuse controlling behavior.）

Common Mistakes

• Assuming it is always cute; intense jealousy can be a serious issue.

Origin & History

Longstanding Chinese idiom for jealousy, still central in modern relationship talk.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern and contemporary

Generation: All generations

Social background: Broadly used

Regional notes: Standard across Mainland Chinese speech.