sōu
馊
sour; spoiled; rancid; rotten (idea)
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesadjective
(of food, especially cooked rice or dishes) spoiled; sour; rancid; having a foul smell due to fermentation or decay
Typically describes leftover cooked food that has sat out too long and begun to ferment. Often paired with 饭 (rice) or 菜 (dishes).
Zhè这
wǎn碗
fàn饭
sōu馊
le了
，
bù不
néng能
chī吃
le了
。
This bowl of rice has gone sour; it can't be eaten.
Cài菜
fàng放
tài太
jiǔ久
huì会
sōu馊
de的
。
If vegetables are left out too long, they will spoil.
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Chú厨
fáng房
lǐ里
yǒu有
yī一
gǔ股
sōu馊
wèi味
。
There's a rancid smell in the kitchen.
adjective
(figurative) rotten; lousy; stupid (referring to ideas, schemes, or suggestions)
informalColloquial usage, often in the fixed expression 馊主意 (sōu zhǔyi). Implies the idea is not just bad but potentially harmful or embarrassing.
Nǐ你
chū出
de的
zhè这
shì是
shén什
me么
sōu馊
zhǔ主
yi意
？
What kind of lousy idea is this that you've come up with?
Bié别
tīng听
tā他
de的
，
nà那
shì是
sōu馊
diǎn点
zi子
。
Don't listen to him; that's a rotten idea.