Bitter is a versatile term in literature, used to evoke both the physical sensation of a harsh taste and the deep emotional wounds of life. It often appears to intensify sorrow or regret, as when a character laments bitter sorrow and the weight of their anguish [1], or when bitter tears signal profound personal loss [2][3]. At the same time, bitter is employed to convey a harsh, caustic tone in dialogue or description, whether through the biting edge of savage insults [4][5] or the cold, contemptuous glances of scorn [6]. Beyond its emotional connotations, writers also use bitterness in sensory imagery, contrasting it with sweetness to highlight the dual nature of life’s experiences [7][8]. In all its forms, bitter enriches narratives by linking tangible tastes with the intangible textures of human feeling.