noun
hardships and joys; the sweets and bitters of life
A yojijukugo expressing the full range of life's experiences, both bitter and sweet. Often used to describe someone who has experienced much of life.
彼は辛酸甘苦をなめてきた人物だ。
He is a person who has tasted the sweets and bitters of life.
人生の辛酸甘苦を知ることで、人は成長する。
People grow by knowing the hardships and joys of life.
Similar meaning of knowing both good and bad, but 辛酸甘苦 is a more formal, literary yojijukugo.
Refers to the range of human emotions (joy, anger, sorrow, pleasure), while 辛酸甘苦 focuses on life experiences.
A yojijukugo combining 辛 (spicy/bitter), 酸 (sour), 甘 (sweet), and 苦 (bitter) to represent the full spectrum of life's experiences. The exact origin is uncertain, but it follows a common pattern of pairing contrasting tastes to symbolize life's ups and downs.