酸甜苦辣 (suān tián kǔ là) — (idiom, literal) sour, sweet, bitter, and spicy hot — the four basic tastes; (idiom, figurative) the joys and sorrows of life; all the ups andwelling range of ups and downs

Definition

Four-character phrase that names the four basic tastes literally, and figuratively means 'all the joys and sorrows of life' — a complete, mixed experience. A richer, set-phrase alternative to 悲欢离合 for the same idea.

phrase
(idiom, literal) soursweetbitterand spicy hot — the four basic tastes(idiom, figurative) the joys and sorrows of lifeall the ups andwelling range of ups and downs

Examples

  • 酸甜苦辣
    Zhǐ yǒu cháng guò rén shēng de suān tián kǔ là, cái néng biàn de chéng shú.
    Only after tasting life's ups and downs can you become mature.
  • 酸甜苦辣
    Tā jīng lì le chuàng yè de suān tián kǔ là, zuì hòu zhōng yú chéng gōng le.
    She went through all the ups and downs of starting a business and finally succeeded.
  • 酸甜苦辣
    Zhè dào cài bāo hán le suān tián kǔ là sì zhǒng wèi dào, fēi cháng dú tè.
    This dish contains all four flavors — sour, sweet, bitter, and spicy — and is very unique.
Appears in

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