chīcù: 吃醋 - To be jealous (in a romantic context)

• Keywords: chicu, 吃醋, chīcù, Chinese for jealous, jealous in Chinese, eating vinegar, Chinese jealousy, what does chicu mean, how to say jealous in Mandarin, romantic jealousy, Chinese culture, Tang Dynasty story
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 吃醋 (chīcù), the unique and essential Chinese term for “to be jealous” in a romantic context. Literally translating to “eat vinegar,” this vivid expression captures the sour, sharp feeling of seeing your partner with a potential rival. This page explores its fascinating origin story from the Tang Dynasty, how to use it in modern conversation, and how it differs from other words like `嫉妒 (jídù)`. Learn to express this complex emotion like a native speaker.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): chīcù
• Part of Speech: Verb Phrase (Verb-Object)
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To feel jealous, possessive, or envious, specifically within a romantic relationship.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine the sharp, unpleasant, sour jolt of drinking straight vinegar. That's the feeling that 吃醋 (chīcù) describes. It's not general envy of someone's car or job; it's the specific, personal pang of jealousy you feel when your significant other pays a little too much attention to someone else. It's the primary, everyday way to express romantic jealousy in Mandarin.

• 吃 (chī): To eat. This is one of the most fundamental characters in Chinese, representing the basic action of consumption.
• 醋 (cù): Vinegar. The radical `酉 (yǒu)` on the left is often associated with alcohol or fermented liquids, and the right part provides the sound.
• When combined, 吃醋 (chīcù) literally means “to eat vinegar.” This metaphor is so powerful and universally understood in Chinese culture that the literal meaning is now secondary to its idiomatic one. The feeling of romantic jealousy is equated with the physical sensation of consuming something sour and acidic.

The term 吃醋 (chīcù) is not just a word; it's a story deeply embedded in Chinese history. The origin is famously traced back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) and the chancellor Fang Xuanling. The story goes that Emperor Taizong wanted to reward his chancellor with several beautiful concubines. However, Fang's wife was notoriously strong-willed and refused to allow it. To test her resolve, the Emperor presented her with two choices: either accept the concubines for her husband, or drink a cup of “poisoned wine” and die. To everyone's astonishment, she chose the wine and drank it without hesitation. The “poison,” however, was just a cup of strong vinegar. The Emperor was so impressed by her fierce devotion that he relented and famously said, “Even I am afraid of a woman like this.” From that day on, “eating vinegar” became the go-to phrase to describe a spouse's (usually a wife's) jealousy. Comparison to Western Concepts: While English has the “green-eyed monster” to describe jealousy, 吃醋 (chīcù) is different.

• Specificity: `吃醋` is almost exclusively used for romantic jealousy. The “green-eyed monster” can describe envy over status, wealth, or opportunities.
• Commonality: `吃醋` is a very common, everyday conversational term. The “green-eyed monster” is more literary and less frequently used in casual speech.
• Connotation: `吃醋` can often be used playfully and can even be seen as a sign of affection—proof that you care enough to be jealous.

In modern China, 吃醋 (chīcù) is an extremely common and informal term used by people of all ages.

• In Relationships: Couples use it both seriously and playfully. Saying “你吃醋了？” (Nǐ chīcù le? - “Are you jealous?”) can be a gentle tease. It's a way to talk about boundaries and feelings in a relationship without sounding overly dramatic or confrontational.
• On Social Media: Netizens often use `吃醋` to comment on celebrity relationships or fictional couples in TV shows. You might see comments like, “看到男主角和女二号在一起，我都要吃醋了！” (Seeing the male lead with the second female lead is making me jealous!).
• Formality: It is distinctly informal. You would not use it in a formal report or a serious business negotiation. It belongs in personal conversations with friends, family, and partners.

• Example 1:
  • 你别跟那个男生说话，我会吃醋的！
  • Pinyin: Nǐ bié gēn nàge nánshēng shuōhuà, wǒ huì chīcù de!
  • English: Don't talk to that boy, I'll get jealous!
  • Analysis: A direct and slightly possessive statement, common between young couples. The `会…的` (huì…de) structure indicates a future certainty.
• Example 2:
  • 看到你和别的女孩笑得那么开心，我有点儿吃醋了。
  • Pinyin: Kàndào nǐ hé biéde nǚhái xiào de nàme kāixīn, wǒ yǒudiǎnr chīcù le.
  • English: Seeing you laughing so happily with other girls made me a little jealous.
  • Analysis: `有点儿` (yǒudiǎnr) softens the feeling, making it less of an accusation and more of an admission of a slight feeling of jealousy.
• Example 3:
  • A: 我只是跟我的老朋友吃个饭而已。你吃醋了？
  • B: 我才没有！
  • Pinyin: A: Wǒ zhǐshì gēn wǒ de lǎo péngyǒu chī ge fàn éryǐ. Nǐ chīcù le?
  • B: Wǒ cái méiyǒu!
  • English: A: I was just having a meal with my old friend, that's all. Are you jealous?
  • B: Of course not! / No way!
  • Analysis: A classic conversational exchange. Person A is teasing Person B, who denies it strongly with `才没有` (cái méiyǒu).
• Example 4:
  • 他是个“醋坛子”，女朋友跟谁多说一句话他都吃醋。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì ge “cùtánzi”, nǚpéngyǒu gēn shéi duō shuō yí jù huà tā dōu chīcù.
  • English: He's a “vinegar jar” (gets jealous easily); he gets jealous if his girlfriend says even one extra word to anyone.
  • Analysis: Introduces the related noun `醋坛子` (cùtánzi), literally “vinegar jar,” which is a nickname for someone who gets jealous very easily.
• Example 5:
  • 连我们家猫的醋你都吃？它只是想在我腿上睡觉！
  • Pinyin: Lián wǒmen jiā māo de cù nǐ dōu chī? Tā zhǐshì xiǎng zài wǒ tuǐ shàng shuìjiào!
  • English: You're even jealous of our cat? It just wants to sleep on my lap!
  • Analysis: A humorous and exaggerated use of the term. The structure `连…都…` (lián…dōu…) means “even…”. Here, the verb `吃` is used, and the object `醋` is separated by `的` (de). This is a very common structure: `吃 + [person/thing]'s + 醋`.
• Example 6:
  • 我不是吃醋，我只是觉得你应该更尊重我。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ búshì chīcù, wǒ zhǐshì juéde nǐ yīnggāi gèng zūnzhòng wǒ.
  • English: I'm not being jealous, I just think you should respect me more.
  • Analysis: This shows how someone might deny being “jealous” to frame their feelings as more rational or serious, distinguishing it from what they see as a petty emotion.
• Example 7:
  • 你这么爱吃醋，是不是因为太爱我了？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zhème ài chīcù, shì bu shì yīnwèi tài ài wǒ le?
  • English: You get jealous so easily, is it because you love me too much?
  • Analysis: This sentence reframes jealousy as a positive sign of deep affection, a common way to interpret it in a playful or reassuring manner.
• Example 8:
  • 别开玩笑了，我怎么会吃一个电影明星的醋呢？
  • Pinyin: Bié kāiwánxiào le, wǒ zěnme huì chī yí ge diànyǐng míngxīng de cù ne?
  • English: Stop joking, how could I possibly be jealous of a movie star?
  • Analysis: Another example of the separated `吃…醋` structure. The rhetorical question `怎么会…呢?` (zěnme huì…ne?) expresses disbelief.
• Example 9:
  • 爸爸，你是不是在吃妈妈新养的小狗的醋啊？
  • Pinyin: Bàba, nǐ shì bu shì zài chī māma xīn yǎng de xiǎo gǒu de cù a?
  • English: Dad, are you jealous of the new puppy Mom got?
  • Analysis: Demonstrates that the term can be used in a family context, often humorously, to describe jealousy over affection being given to someone (or something) else.
• Example 10:
  • 她假装不在乎，但她脸上的表情说明她正在吃醋。
  • Pinyin: Tā jiǎzhuāng búzàihu, dàn tā liǎn shàng de biǎoqíng shuōmíng tā zhèngzài chīcù.
  • English: She pretended not to care, but the expression on her face showed that she was jealous.
  • Analysis: This sentence describes the internal feeling of `吃醋` being visible externally, even when someone tries to hide it.

The most critical mistake for learners is using 吃醋 (chīcù) for non-romantic jealousy. It is a “false friend” with the general English word “jealous.”

• Mistake: Using `吃醋` for envy of possessions, status, or abilities.
  • Incorrect: 我吃醋你的新手机。(Wǒ chīcù nǐ de xīn shǒujī.) → “I am jealous of your new phone.”
  • Why it's wrong: This sounds very strange, as if you have a romantic relationship with the person and are jealous of the attention they give their phone.
  • Correct: 我很羡慕你的新手机。(Wǒ hěn xiànmù nǐ de xīn shǒujī.) → “I really admire/envy your new phone.”
  • Correct: 我嫉妒他得到的那个机会。(Wǒ jídù tā dédào de nàge jīhuì.) → “I'm jealous of the opportunity he got.”
• Nuance: `吃醋` is not always a negative accusation. In the right context, it can be a playful and intimate part of a relationship, implying “I care about you so much that I don't want to share your attention.” The severity depends entirely on tone and context.

• 嫉妒 (jídù) - A more general and serious word for “to be jealous” or “envious.” This is the correct term for non-romantic jealousy over talent, success, or possessions.
• 羡慕 (xiànmù) - To “envy” or “admire.” This has a much lighter, less malicious connotation than `嫉妒`. It's what you feel when you wish you had something nice that someone else has.
• 情敌 (qíngdí) - “Love rival.” This is the person who causes you to `吃醋`. Literally “emotion enemy.”
• 酸 (suān) - “Sour.” The adjective for the taste of vinegar. It can be used metaphorically to describe the feeling of jealousy, e.g., “我心里酸酸的” (Wǒ xīnli suān suān de), meaning “I feel a bit sour/jealous inside.”
• 占有欲 (zhànyǒuyù) - “Possessiveness” (noun). A stronger, more intense feeling related to `吃醋`. If someone has a strong `占有欲`, they probably `吃醋` very often.
• 在乎 (zàihu) - “To care about; to mind.” This is often linked to `吃醋`. For example, “就是因为我太在乎你，我才会吃醋” (It's because I care about you so much that I get jealous).