sour

Compared meaning: having a sharp, sour taste (adjective).

比较义项：味道尖酸、带酸味（形容词）。

• acid

  More formal or scientific in register than the others; describes a sharp, sour taste often linked to a chemical or citrus source, and is rarely used for food that has simply gone bad.

  语气比其他几个词更正式或偏科学，常指与化学物质或柑橘类相关的尖酸味道，很少用来形容单纯变质的食物。

  The old vinegar had grown so acid that it stung the back of his throat.

  那瓶陈醋的酸味变得如此刺鼻，刺得他喉咙发疼。

• sour 本词

  The most common, everyday word for a sharp taste like a lemon; it often implies that food or drink has gone bad or tastes unpleasant.

  是最常见、最口语化的词，指像柠檬那样的尖酸味道，常暗示食物或饮料已经变质或味道不佳。

  The milk had gone sour overnight, so we poured it down the sink.

  牛奶一夜之间变酸了，所以我们把它倒进了水槽。

• tart

  Describes a pleasantly sharp, fresh taste, usually in fruit or desserts; the sourness is seen as appetizing rather than spoiled.

  形容一种令人愉悦的、清新的尖酸味道，通常用于水果或甜点，这种酸味被认为开胃，而不是变质。

  Fresh cranberries have a tart taste that many people enjoy in sauce.

  新鲜蔓越莓带有一种尖酸的味道，很多人喜欢用它做酱料。

• tangy

  Describes a piquant, zesty taste or smell, often from citrus or vinegar in savory dishes; it covers smell as well as taste and usually sounds appealing rather than sour in a negative sense.

  形容一种辛辣、爽口的味道或气味，常见于加了柑橘或醋的咸味菜肴，既可指味道也可指气味，通常给人愉快的感觉，而不是负面的酸味。

  The barbecue sauce had a tangy kick from the added lime juice.

  那份烧烤酱因为加了青柠汁而带有一股辛辣爽口的味道。

Acid, sour, tart, and tangy all describe a sharp, sour taste, but differ: sour is the common word, often implying food has gone bad. Tart means pleasantly sharp and appetizing. Tangy means zesty and fresh, often from citrus. Acid is formal or scientific.

这四个词都可形容食物或饮料有明显的酸味或刺激性味道，但语气和感情色彩不同：sour 常带负面意味，指变质或不好吃；tart 和 tangy 通常是正面或中性的，指清爽开胃；acid 语气较正式或偏科学，也可比喻态度尖刻、言辞刻薄，这里不比较 acid 的这一比喻义。

Compared meaning: in a bad, angry, or hostile mood (adjective).

比较义项：情绪或态度令人不快，带有生气、敌意或阴郁的坏脾气（形容词）。

• cross

  Cross names a mild, brief annoyance at someone, often used with children or small mistakes; it is a passing mood, not a lasting trait, and sounds slightly old-fashioned or British.

  cross表示对某人短暂、轻微的生气，常用于孩子或小过失，是一时的情绪而非持久的性格，且语气略显老式或英式。

  The teacher sounded cross when we forgot our homework again.

  我们又忘了带作业，老师听起来很生气。

• ugly

  Ugly describes a mood, scene, or crowd becoming hostile and possibly violent; it is stronger and more alarming than the others, and rarely describes a person's everyday temperament.

  ugly形容气氛、场面或人群变得充满敌意甚至可能爆发暴力，比其他几个词更强烈、更令人不安，很少用来形容一个人平日的性情。

  The negotiations turned ugly when both sides started shouting threats.

  双方开始大喊威胁的话时，谈判变得险恶起来。

• sour 本词

  Sour describes a lingering bitter, resentful, unpleasant attitude that often follows a disappointment; it can describe a person's mood, a remark, or a relationship or situation gone bad.

  sour形容失望之后留下的、持续存在的苦闷、怨恨和令人不快的态度，可以用来形容人的情绪、言语，或变糟的关系或局面。

  Losing the promotion left him sour and resentful toward his coworkers for weeks.

  没有得到晋升让他一连几周对同事都心怀怨恨、闷闷不乐。

• moody

  Moody describes an ongoing personality trait of unpredictable swings between gloominess and bad temper; it labels a person's general character, not their reaction to one single event.

  moody形容一个人经常在阴郁和坏脾气之间反复无常地变化，属于持续的性格特点，而不是对某一件事的一次性反应。

  As a teenager, she was moody, cheerful one minute and silent the next.

  她十几岁时情绪多变，前一分钟还很开心，下一分钟就沉默不语。

Cross, ugly, sour, and moody can all describe a bad mood. Cross is a mild, brief annoyance, often with children. Ugly describes a mood or crowd turning hostile. Sour describes bitterness after a disappointment. Moody describes unpredictable mood swings. Ugly 'unattractive' is not compared.

这四个词都可以表示情绪或气氛不好，但程度和语气不同：cross最轻微、短暂，ugly最强烈、带有敌意甚至暴力的意味，sour是失望后留下的怨恨和不快，moody则是反复无常的性格特点。这里不比较cross的“交叉、横过”义，ugly的“丑陋（外貌）”义，以及sour的“酸的（味觉）”义。