太咸了。

Use it exactly like 'It is too salty' in English. You can say it about a specific dish. You can say it about the whole meal. Just point at the soup and say 太咸了. You do not need a subject like 'it' or 'this'. Chinese often drops the subject when it is obvious. It is short, sharp, and effective.

You will use this most at restaurants. It is perfect for telling a waiter there is a mistake. You can also use it at home with family. If your friend cooks for you, use it gently. It is great for quick feedback during a meal. Even if you are texting a food review, it works.

Do not use this at a formal banquet immediately. It might seem rude to a high-status host. Avoid saying it to your mother-in-law's first dish. Wait until you have tried other things first. If the food is just 'a bit' salty, use 有点咸. 太咸了 is a strong statement of excess. Do not use it for sweet or spicy foods.

Chinese cuisine varies wildly by region. Northern food is known for being quite salty. People from the South might say 太咸了 more often. Salt was historically a precious commodity in China. Today, health-conscious youth use this phrase to avoid sodium. It is a common part of the 'healthy eating' conversation.

You can add 这个 at the start for 'This is too salty'. If you want to be polite, add 我觉得 (I feel). For extreme saltiness, say 咸死了 (Salty to death). If you want to ask for less salt next time, say 少放点盐. These variations help you navigate different social levels.