Bitter taste is one of the important contents in the theory of"Five tastes"in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM).It has the functions of"releasing,dryness and firmness"and plays an important role in the treatment of respiratory diseases.Bitter taste receptors(T2Rs)is a kind of G-protein-coupled receptors,studies have shown that it can act on human airway smooth muscle,relax smooth muscle and dilate bronchus,and play a vital role in the treatment of bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.It can also inhibit the inflammatory reaction and reduce the damage of lung tissue by reducing the release of inflammatory factors and promoting the apoptosis of inflammatory cells.The therapeutic mechanism of bitter Chinese herbs action may depend on the effect of T2Rs,the effects of bitter Chinese herbs such as"lowering qi","releasing heat","eliminating dampness"are quite consistent with the cognitions of western medicine that bitter taste receptors could"relaxe bronchus","reduce airway resistance","inhibits inflammatory factors"and"reduces mucus secretion".Based on the understanding of bitter taste in TCM theory and modern research,this study aims to discuss the effect of bitter Chinese herbs depend on T2Rs as the starting point,so as to provide a new research direction for clinical treatment of pulmonary diseases such as bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.