酸辣辣

suānlàlà

adjective

Meanings

1 bitter and stinging (of grief)
2 a raw, hot ache in the heart
3 sour and painful

Characters

Examples

HSK 3

想起离世的母亲，他心里酸辣辣的。

Xiǎngqǐ lí shì de mǔqīn, tā xīnlǐ suānlàlà de.

Thinking of his late mother, he felt a raw, stinging ache in his heart.

HSK 7-9

读完那封信，她眼眶发热，心里酸辣辣。

Dú wán nà fēng xìn, tā yǎnkuàng fārè, xīnlǐ suānlàlà.

After finishing the letter, her eyes burned and her heart stung with grief.

Tips

usage

Combines sour (酸) and spicy-hot (辣) to describe an emotional pain that's both sad and sharp. Used for deep grief or raw hurt, stronger than 酸挤挤. Almost always pairs with 心里.

Stroke Order

酸 suān

辣 là