You already know the five basic taste words in Mandarin: 甜 (tián, sweet), 咸 (xián, salty), 酸 (suān, sour), 苦 (kǔ, bitter), and 辣 (là, spicy). You have seen the pattern 这是甜的 (Zhè shì tián de) and the tasting pattern 它尝起来很咸 (Tā cháng qǐlái hěn xián). This workshop is for the moment when you are actually sitting at a table, a bowl of soup or a plate of vegetables is in front of you, and someone asks 这个汤尝起来怎么样？ (Zhège tāng cháng qǐlái zěnme yàng?) — how does this soup taste? You will practise saying the taste out loud, adding a small detail, and then handling a follow-up question that pushes you past a single adjective. The goal is not to memorize more grammar; it is to make these five words come out of your mouth quickly enough to be part of a real exchange.
Get your mouth ready before the food arrives
Before you speak, decide which taste word is most likely and prepare one full sentence with it. For example, if you are about to taste a lemon dessert, quietly rehearse 这是酸的 (Zhè shì suān de). If you are about to taste a Sichuan-style dish, rehearse 这是辣的 (Zhè shì là de). Then prepare a second sentence using the tasting pattern: 它尝起来很酸 (Tā cháng qǐlái hěn suān) or 它尝起来很辣 (Tā cháng qǐlái hěn là). The difference matters in conversation: 这是酸的 states a fact about the food, while 它尝起来很酸 describes your experience of tasting it. If you want to ask someone else first, use 这个菜尝起来怎么样？ (Zhège cài cháng qǐlái zěnme yàng?) or the simpler 这是甜的吗？ (Zhè shì tián de ma?). Rehearsing both the statement and the question means you are not stuck waiting for the other person to lead. Also practise saying the words with a clear falling tone on 是 and a light, quick 的 at the end, because beginners often let 的 disappear and the sentence sounds unfinished.
When the taste is not what you expected
The harder turn in a tasting conversation is when the other person disagrees with you, or when the food has more than one taste. In the source dialogue, one speaker says 它尝起来很咸 (Tā cháng qǐlái hěn xián), and the other responds 真的吗？这是咸的？ (Zhēn de ma? Zhè shì xián de?) — really? This is salty? That is your cue to hold your position politely and add information. You can repeat your statement with the tasting pattern, then add a second taste: 是的，而且有点辣 (Shì de, érqiě yǒudiǎn là) — yes, and it is a bit spicy. The word 有点 (yǒudiǎn) means 'a bit', and it lets you soften a negative taste like 苦 (kǔ) or 咸 (xián) without sounding harsh. If someone asks 这是苦的吗？ (Zhè shì kǔ de ma?), you can answer 是的，它尝起来很苦 (Shì de, tā cháng qǐlái hěn kǔ) or 不是，这是酸的 (Bú shì, zhè shì suān de). The key is to answer the yes/no question first, then give the taste word, then optionally add 而且 (érqiě, and also) with a second taste. This keeps you in the conversation instead of freezing after one word.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
这是甜的。
This is sweet.
Zhè shì tián de.
这是咸的。
This is salty.
Zhè shì xián de.
这是酸的。
This is sour.
Zhè shì suān de.
这是苦的。
This is bitter.
Zhè shì kǔ de.
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
这个汤尝起来怎么样？
How does this soup taste?它尝起来很咸。
It tastes very salty.真的吗？这是咸的？
Really? This is salty?是的，而且有点辣。
Yes, and it's a bit spicy.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
First taste at a friend's kitchen table
Your friend has cooked a simple vegetable soup and hands you a spoon. She asks, 这个汤尝起来怎么样？ (Zhège tāng cháng qǐlái zěnme yàng?) You taste it and it is clearly salty, with no other strong flavour.
Your task: Answer out loud in Mandarin. First give a full sentence using the tasting pattern with 咸 (xián). Then add one more sentence stating the fact with 这是咸的 (Zhè shì xián de). Say both sentences slowly enough that the 的 at the end is audible. Do not switch to English.
Two tastes in one dish at a restaurant
You order a cold cucumber dish at a small restaurant. The first bite is sour from vinegar, and then a clear spicy heat arrives. The server asks, 这个菜尝起来怎么样？ (Zhège cài cháng qǐlái zěnme yàng?)
Your task: Describe both tastes out loud. Start with 这是酸的 (Zhè shì suān de), then use 而且 (érqiě) to add the second taste with 辣 (là), for example 而且有点辣 (érqiě yǒudiǎn là). Then say one sentence about which taste you noticed first by repeating the first taste word.
A bitter medicine-flavoured drink at a market stall
At a market stall, you try a herbal drink. It is very bitter, and you also notice a faint sweetness at the end. The stall owner asks, 这个尝起来怎么样？ (Zhège cháng qǐlái zěnme yàng?) You need to describe it honestly but politely, because the owner is watching your face.
Your task: Say out loud that it is bitter, using 它尝起来很苦 (Tā cháng qǐlái hěn kǔ) or 这是苦的 (Zhè shì kǔ de). Then add that there is also a little sweetness, using 有点甜 (yǒudiǎn tián). Keep your tone calm and add 但是 (dànshì, but) if you want to contrast the two tastes.
Common questions
Do I need to say 的 at the end of 这是甜的, or can I drop it?
The source lesson says 的 is optional in casual speech but common when emphasizing the quality. In these speaking exercises, keep 的 at first so your sentence has a clear ending, then try dropping it in a later repetition to hear the difference.
What is the difference between 这是甜的 and 它尝起来很甜?
这是甜的 states a fact about the food: this is sweet. 它尝起来很甜 describes your tasting experience: it tastes very sweet. Use the first when pointing at a dish, and the second when you want to emphasize what you noticed while tasting.
Can I use these taste words to say I like or dislike the food?
No. The source lesson notes that these patterns describe inherent qualities, not personal likes. To express liking, you need 我喜欢 (Wǒ xǐhuān). In these exercises, stay with taste description and use 有点 or 但是 to manage a negative taste politely.
Sources and further reading
- chinese: express basic tastesChecked September 2026
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