珍珠奶茶
zhēnzhū nǎichá
珍珠奶茶 (zhēnzhū nǎichá) is the Chinese phrase for boba milk tea.
This phrase refers to a tea-based drink mixed with milk and chewy tapioca pearls. The term 波霸 specifically refers to the chewy tapioca balls themselves.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 珍珠奶茶 is composed of 珍珠 (pearl), 奶 (milk) and 茶 (tea).
Which one should you use?
While English speakers often use the term 'boba', the most common and standard term in Chinese is 珍珠奶茶.
How do you pronounce it?
zhēnzhū nǎichá
Did you know?
- In Chinese, the word 波霸 (boba) is a slang term that literally means 'big-breasted' or 'busty'. It was adopted as a name for the extra-large pearls to emphasize their size and chewiness.
- The term 波霸 (boba) literally translates to 'big boss' or 'great leader', a nickname given to the extra-large pearls in Taiwan.
- Customs in tea shops allow customers to customize their 珍珠奶茶 by choosing a 'sugar level' and 'ice level' using percentages, such as 'half sugar' or 'no ice'.
Examples in context
- 你想喝什么样的奶茶？What kind of milk tea would you like?
- 我想要一杯珍珠奶茶。I would like a cup of boba milk tea.
- 我想喝珍珠奶茶。Wǒ xiǎng hē zhēnzhū nǎichá.I want to drink boba milk tea.
- 这家店的珍珠奶茶很好喝。Zhè jiā diàn de zhēnzhū nǎichá hěn hǎohē.This shop's boba milk tea is delicious.
- 你要点珍珠奶茶吗？Nǐ yào diǎn zhēnzhū nǎichá ma?Do you want to order boba milk tea?
Example conversation
Two friends are deciding on a drink at a cafe.
- 梓涵 Zihan伟，你要喝什么？Wěi, nǐ yào hē shénme?Wei, what do you want to drink?
- 伟 Wei我想要一杯珍珠奶茶。Wǒ xiǎng yào yì bēi zhēnzhū nǎichá.I want a cup of boba milk tea.
- 梓涵 Zihan好的，我也要一杯。Hǎo de, wǒ yě yào yì bēi.Okay, I want one too.
- 伟 Wei那我们一起点吧。Nà wǒmen yìqǐ diǎn ba.Then let's order together.
