About
The character "醋", denoting vinegar, originates from a phono-semantic composition with the radical "酉" on the left, which semantically links it to fermentation and alcoholic substances, and the component "昔" on the right, primarily serving as a phonetic indicator. This structural arrangement reflects the ancient practice of deriving vinegar from fermented grains, where it was essentially a sour byproduct of winemaking. Over time, the meaning of "醋" narrowed from potentially broader acidic concoctions to specify the familiar culinary condiment, while historically interchangeable characters like "酢" receded from common usage. Its fundamental construction has persisted without major modification, maintaining the consistent visual cue of "酉" to signify its association with aged or fermented products.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我爱吃醋。
醋在厨房里。
这瓶醋很酸。
面条里加点醋。
醋和酱油是调料。
买醋要去超市。
适量的醋有益健康。
做糖醋排骨需要醋。