spicy

Compared meaning: having a burning taste from chili or spices (adjective).

比较义项：辣（形容词，指食物味道辛辣、有刺激感）。

• hot

  Hot emphasizes a burning, sometimes overwhelming sensation typically caused by chili peppers; it is casual in tone and shares its form with the common word for high temperature, so context matters.

  hot强调辣椒带来的灼烧、有时令人难以承受的刺激感，语气比较随意，而且与表示“温度高”的常用词同形，因此需要依靠语境来判断具体含义。

  The chili was so hot that my mouth was burning for minutes.

  这份辣椒酱太辣了，我的嘴巴火辣辣地疼了好几分钟。

• spicy 本词

  Spicy highlights the complex, aromatic flavor from a mix of spices rather than pure burning heat; it is a more neutral, descriptive word often used on restaurant menus.

  spicy强调多种香辛料混合带来的浓郁、有层次的风味，而不只是灼烧的辣感，语气更中性，常用于餐厅菜单的描述。

  The stew was rich and spicy, seasoned with cumin, paprika, and garlic.

  这道炖菜味道浓郁辛香，用了孜然、红椒粉和大蒜调味。

Hot and spicy both describe food with a burning taste. Hot emphasizes a strong, overwhelming burn, usually from chili peppers, and is casual. Spicy highlights the rich flavor from a mix of spices, not just burning heat. Hot's other meaning, 'high temperature', is not compared.

这两个词在“辣”这个意义上很接近，但hot强调像辣椒那样灼热、有时令人难以承受的刺激感，语气更随意，而且hot还有“温度高”这个常用义项，脱离语境容易产生歧义；spicy则侧重多种香辛料混合带来的浓郁、有层次的风味，不强调灼烧感，语气更中性，常见于餐厅菜单的描述。这里不比较hot的“温度高”“热门的”等其他义项。

Compared meaning: slightly indecent or racy (adjective).

比较义项：下流的（形容词）。

• blue

  Blue describes jokes, humor, or movies that are risqué or indecent, often implying sexual content, as in the set phrases "blue joke" or "blue movie"; the tone is somewhat old-fashioned.

  blue用来形容带有性暗示、下流意味的笑话、幽默或电影，常见于“blue joke（黄色笑话）”“blue movie（黄色电影）”这类固定说法，语气偏老派。

  Grandpa still tells a blue joke or two when he's had a few drinks.

  爷爷喝了几杯酒后，还是会讲一两个黄色笑话。

• spicy 本词

  Spicy describes stories, gossip, or scenes that are mildly racy or shocking rather than outright indecent, suggesting excitement or scandal; it sounds lighter and more casual than blue.

  spicy用来形容略带惊世骇俗或挑逗意味的故事、八卦或情节，暗示令人兴奋或引人议论，而非直接下流；语气比blue更轻松随意。

  The tabloid ran a spicy story about the actor's messy divorce.

  小报刊登了一篇关于这位演员离婚风波的劲爆报道。

Blue and spicy both mean mildly indecent. Blue describes jokes or movies with sexual content and sounds old-fashioned. Spicy describes shocking or racy stories and gossip, sounding lighter and casual. Blue's other meanings (color, or 'sad') and spicy's meaning hot-tasting food are not compared here.

这两个词在“下流、略显粗俗”这一义项上意思相近，但语气和使用场合有别：blue多指带有性暗示意味的粗俗笑话或电影，语气偏老派；spicy则多指带有惊世骇俗或挑逗意味的故事、八卦，语气更轻松随意。这里不比较blue的“蓝色的”“忧郁的”义项，也不比较spicy的“辛辣的”（指食物）义项。