酢
vinegar, sour, acid, tart
Readings
On'yomi
- サク
Kun'yomi
- す
Meaning
酢 centers on the sharp, acidic taste of vinegar and the sourness it represents. The meanings 'acid' and 'tart' are natural extensions of that same sour quality.
Most common words using 酢
20 of 94- 酢すN3
vinegar
- ポン酢ポンず
juice pressed from a bitter orange
- 酢酸さくさん
acetic acid
- 酢豚すぶた
sweet-and-sour pork
- 酢の物すのもの
vinegared dish; pickled dish
- 甘酢あまず
sweet vinegar
- 酢漬けすづけ
pickling in vinegar; vinegar pickles
- 酢味噌すみそ
vinegared miso
- 梅酢うめず
plum vinegar; (salted) plum juice
- お酢おす
vinegar
- おろしポン酢おろしポンず
ponzu mixed with grated daikon
- からし酢味噌からしすみそ
vinegared miso mixed with mustard
- すし酢すしず
seasoned vinegar used for preparing sushi rice
- りんご酢りんごす
apple cider vinegar; cider vinegar
- アセト酢酸アセトさくさん
acetoacetic acid
- インドール酢酸インドールさくさん
indoleacetic acid
- エチレンジアミンテトラ酢酸エチレンジアミンテトラさくさん
ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; EDTA
- エチレンジアミン四酢酸エチレンジアミンしさくさん
ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; EDTA
- オキサロ酢酸オキサロさくさん
oxaloacetic acid
- クロロ酢酸クロロさくさん
chloroacetic acid
Study
Etymology
酢 combines 酉 (sake jar, indicating fermentation) with 乍, which likely contributes the sound. The character originally referred to sour fermented liquids, hence vinegar.
Meaning mnemonic
The sake jar 酉 on the left suggests fermentation, and the right side 乍 looks like a sharp, jagged tool. Imagine a jar of fermented liquid so sour it feels sharp on the tongue—that's vinegar.
Reading mnemonic
For サク, imagine a sack of sour vinegar: sack -> サク, and the sharp smell hits you when you open it.