China has distinct spicy food regions: 四川 (Sichuan) is known for 麻辣 (numbing-spicy), 湖南 (Hunan) for pure heat, and 贵州 (Guizhou) for sour-spicy. The phrase 能吃辣吗？ is one of the first questions at many Chinese restaurants.
usage
Spiciness levels in restaurants: 不辣 (not spicy), 微辣 (mild), 中辣 (medium), 特辣 (extra spicy). 吃辣 is used as a verb phrase meaning 'to eat spicy food'.
memory
辣 contains 辛 (xīn, acrid/pungent) on the left, hinting at its meaning. The right side 刂 is the knife radical — spicy food cuts like a knife!
