Definitions

jiàng (noun) fermented soybean paste; sauce
jiàng (verb) to marinate in sauce

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 酱 is a phono-semantic compound, with the upper component 将 (傳統為將) providing the phonetic cue, and the lower radical 酉 providing the semantic category. 酉 represents an ancient brewing vessel, placing the word within the domain of fermentation and food processing. It refers to the thick, fermented condiments, pastes, and sauces essential in cooking. This meaning derives from the ancient practice of preserving meats, soybeans, or wheat through fermentation, and it forms the basis for modern terms like soy sauce (酱油), peanut butter (花生酱), and fruit jam (果酱).

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我喜欢吃果

Wǒ xǐhuān chī guǒjiàng.

I like to eat jam.

油在桌子上。

Jiàngyóu zài zhuōzi shàng.

The soy sauce is on the table.

他做菜用了很多料。

Tā zuò cài yòng le hěn duō jiàngliào.

He used a lot of sauce in cooking.

菜很好吃。

Jiàngcài hěn hǎo chī.

Pickled vegetables are delicious.

豆瓣是川菜的重要调料。

Dòubànjiàng shì chuāncài de zhòngyào tiáoliào.

Broad bean paste is an important seasoning in Sichuan cuisine.

妈妈用牛肉做了美味的晚餐。

Māma yòng jiàng niúròu zuò le měiwèi de wǎncān.

Mom made a delicious dinner with braised beef.

如果你不喜欢辣,可以换成甜

Rúguǒ nǐ bù xǐhuān làjiàng, kěyǐ huàn chéng tiánjiàng.

If you don't like chili sauce, you can change it to sweet sauce.

这种特制的汁融合了多种香料,味道非常独特。

Zhè zhǒng tèzhì de jiàngzhī rónghé le duō zhǒng xiāngliào, wèidào fēicháng dútè.

This specially made sauce blends multiple spices, and the taste is very unique.