How do I say 'I'm jealous'?

吃醋 is one of Chinese’s most vivid metaphors — romantic jealousy as “eating vinegar,” the sour taste of watching someone you love pay attention to someone else. It is so common that it has lost its metaphorical feeling and become the standard everyday word.

The word is specifically romantic. You cannot 吃醋 about a colleague’s salary or a friend’s vacation photos. For those, Chinese splits into:

• 羡慕 — “I wish I had that too.” Positive, admiration-tinged envy. 羡慕你的新手机 = I’m jealous of your new phone (but happy for you).
• 嫉妒 — the formal, broad jealousy/envy word. Covers romantic jealousy and general envy. Heavier than 吃醋, less playful.

吃醋 can be playful or serious depending on tone and context. 你是不是吃醋了？with a smile is teasing. 我受够了, 你总是吃醋 (I’ve had enough — you’re always jealous) is a relationship problem. The word itself is neutral; the context colors it.

The cultural background: the vinegar metaphor comes from a Tang Dynasty story about a man whose wife drank vinegar to prove her loyalty. 吃醋 has been the romantic jealousy word ever since.