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Chinese vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "spicy" in Chinese?
辣
là
In Chinese, "spicy" is 辣 (là).
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Pronunciation
When you say là, lead with a sharp, falling tone that drops fast, like a firm "no!", since this single syllable carries the fourth tone.
Writing and usage
辣 is written using hanzi. It's a adjective, part of the vocabulary taught in the Noun Town language learning game.
Example sentence
这咖喱很辣。
zhè gā lí hěn là 。
This curry is very spicy.
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How to remember 辣
Say "là" and picture spicy at the exact same moment — that snapshot is your anchor for the word.
Related words
Browse all Chinese words in the glossary.
Questions about 辣
How do you pronounce 辣?
When you say là, lead with a sharp, falling tone that drops fast, like a firm "no!", since this single syllable carries the fourth tone.
Is 辣 formal or casual?
辣 is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech.
How is 辣 used in Chinese?
辣 is used the same way as the equivalent English adjective. For example: 这咖喱很辣。 (This curry is very spicy.).
Where can I practice Chinese words for free?
You can play free Chinese minigames in your browser on the Noun Town online games page, no sign-up required. Every word in the Chinese glossary also has native audio and an example sentence you can revisit any time.
"Spicy" in other languages
Curated by Callan Ratcliffe
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