Translation guide
The Japanese word for vinegar is 酢 (su). It is used in cooking, as a condiment, and in set phrases. There are also specific types like rice vinegar (米酢) and black vinegar (黒酢).
The learner wants to refer to vinegar in cooking or at the table.
The standard word for vinegar. Used in recipes, shopping, and everyday conversation.
このドレッシングには酢が入っています。
This dressing contains vinegar.
酢を少し加えると味が引き締まります。
Adding a little vinegar tightens the flavor.
Polite form with honorific prefix お. Common in spoken Japanese, especially when referring to vinegar as a condiment or in recipes.
お酢を取っていただけますか？
Could you pass me the vinegar?
The learner specifically means the mild, slightly sweet vinegar used in sushi rice and Japanese cooking.
Rice vinegar, the most common type in Japanese cuisine. Milder and sweeter than Western vinegars.
寿司飯には米酢を使います。
We use rice vinegar for sushi rice.
Seasoned rice vinegar, often pre-mixed with sugar and salt for sushi rice. Literally 'combined vinegar'.
The learner is referring to the dark, somewhat smoky vinegar often drunk diluted as a health tonic.
Black vinegar, made from brown rice. Popular as a health drink. Has a distinct, rich flavor.
毎朝、黒酢を水で割って飲んでいます。
Every morning I drink black vinegar diluted with water.
The learner wants to talk about foods prepared with vinegar, like pickles or vinegared dishes.
A general term for vinegared dishes, often vegetables or seafood lightly pickled in a sweet vinegar dressing.
今日の副菜はきゅうりの酢の物です。
Today's side dish is vinegared cucumber.
Something pickled in vinegar. Can refer to vegetables, fish, etc.
The learner encounters a phrase like 'vinegar' used metaphorically, often for a sour or disagreeable attitude.
Literally 'too much vinegar', meaning someone is being too sour or disagreeable. Rare and literary.
彼の皮肉は酢が過ぎる。
His sarcasm is too biting.
If you need vinegar at a Japanese restaurant, you can say 'お酢をください' (おすをください). However, vinegar is not commonly placed on tables; soy sauce is the default condiment.
ポン酢 (ぽんず) is a citrus-seasoned soy sauce, not vinegar. Despite the name containing 酢, it is a different condiment. Do not confuse them.
Using seasoned rice vinegar makes it easy to prepare sushi rice.
この酢漬けはさっぱりしていて美味しい。
These vinegar pickles are light and tasty.