Meaning
辛辣 primarily describes food that is intensely spicy or pungent, especially with chili peppers. It combines 辛 (pungent, sharp) and 辣 (spicy hot), creating a compound that emphasizes strong, biting flavors. The term can also metaphorically describe harsh or biting criticism or commentary.
Usage
辛辣 is commonly used in culinary contexts to describe dishes with strong spice, particularly Sichuan and Hunan cuisine. When applied to speech or writing, it suggests sharp, incisive, or cutting remarks. More formal than just saying 辣, it emphasizes intensity and often appears in written descriptions of food or in literary contexts.
Examples
- 01这道川菜非常辛辣，不习惯吃辣的人可能受不了。, .This Sichuan dish is very spicy; people who aren't used to eating spicy food probably can't handle it.
- 02他的文章以辛辣的语言批评了社会上的不公现象。.His article used sharp language to criticize social injustices.
Characters
Common collocations
- 辛辣食物spicy food
- 辛辣的批评sharp/biting criticism
- 味道辛辣spicy taste
- 辛辣讽刺biting satire
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters relate to intense taste sensations. 辛 originally depicted a tool for punishment or labor, evolving to mean 'bitter' or 'pungent,' while 辣 contains the radical 辛 itself, emphasizing spiciness from peppers.