How to Write 酢 (cù) — Meaning “vinegar / to toast”

Imagine a bottle of vinegar (酉) that suddenly (乍) makes you pucker your mouth into a sour face. The 乍 on the right looks like a mouth with two teeth biting down. This helps you associate 酢 with the sour taste of vinegar.

The left radical 酉 uses 7 strokes: a short horizontal, then a vertical hook, then a box with a horizontal inside, then two more horizontals. The right side 乍 has 5 strokes: a downward left stroke, then a horizontal, a vertical, and two bottom horizontals. A common mistake is making the right side too tall—keep both sides balanced.

酌 (zhuó) has 酉 plus 勺 (a spoon) and means to pour wine or drink. 配 (pèi) has 酉 plus 己 (self) and means to match or pair. 酢 uses 乍 and specifically refers to vinegar or the act of toasting. Visually, 酢 has two horizontal lines at the bottom of the right side, while 酌 has a dot inside 勺 and 配 has 己.

酢 is not a common standalone character; it appears in words like 酬酢 (chóu cù, socializing with toasts) and 酢浆草 (cù jiāng cǎo, wood sorrel). It is also used in 酢菜 (cù cài, pickled vegetables). In classical culture, 酬酢 described the traditional ritual of exchanging toasts between guests and hosts, emphasizing politeness and harmony.

Common words containing 酢 include: 酢浆草 (cù jiāng cǎo) — wood sorrel / oxalis; 酬酢 (chóu cù) — to exchange toasts or socialize; 酢菜 (cù cài) — pickled vegetables.