杯子
bēizi/peɪ̯⁵⁵ d͡z̥ɹ̩²/
The English word 'cup' is translated into Chinese as 杯子 (bēizi).
Meaning: drinking vessel (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 杯子 | bēizi | /peɪ̯⁵⁵ d͡z̥ɹ̩²/ (Mandarin, Standard Chinese, Sinological IPA) /puːi̯⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵/ (Cantonese, Guangzhou, Sinological IPA, Standard Cantonese, Hong Kong) |
|
| 杯仔 | poe-á | /pue⁴⁴⁻³³ a⁵³/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Singapore, Sinological IPA, Taipei, General Taiwanese) /pue³³ a⁵⁵⁴/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Singapore, Sinological IPA, General Taiwanese) |
Hokkien |
| 甌仔 / 瓯仔 | au-á | Hokkien |
The term refers to a drinking vessel. While the single character 杯 can also mean 'cup', it is more common in formal contexts or when part of a compound word rather than as a standalone noun in casual conversation.
Which one should you use?
In Mandarin, the word 杯子 uses the suffix 子 (zi). In Hokkien, the suffix 仔 (á) is used instead to form the noun, as seen in 杯仔.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Hokkien, you may use 杯仔 (poe-á) or 甌仔 / 瓯仔 (au-á). In the Dungan language, other forms include ванванзы, ванвар, цаван and җунзы.
How does it change in a sentence?
When counting cups in Mandarin, you must use a classifier. The most common classifier is 个 (gè), so you would say 一个杯子 (one cup).
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is bēizi and the IPA is /peɪ̯⁵⁵ dz̥ɹ̩²/.
Did you know?
- In China, the custom of 'pouring tea' involves tapping two fingers on the table as a silent 'thank you' to the person filling your 杯子.
- The character 杯 contains the radical for 'wood' (木), reflecting that the earliest cups in China were carved from wood or bamboo.
- The phrase 杯水车薪 (bēishuǐ chēxīn) uses the word for 'cup' to describe a 'cup of water for a cartload of firewood', meaning an utterly inadequate effort.
Examples in context
- 杯子在桌上。The cup is on the table.This sentence shows how to indicate the location of the 杯子.Tatoeba #2040505 by sadhen, translation #879572 by CK
- 这是谁的杯子？Whose cup is this?This sentence is useful for asking about ownership of the 杯子.Tatoeba #4885037 by musclegirlxyp, translation #8335719 by shekitten
- 桌上有個杯子。There is a cup on the table.This sentence shows how to express the existence of a 杯子 on a surface.Tatoeba #5386942 by xjjAstrus, translation #39602 by CK
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Zi Han and Zhi Qiang are in the kitchen.
- 梓涵 Zihan志强，请给我一个杯子。Zhìqiáng, qǐng gěi wǒ yīgè bēizi.Zhi Qiang, please give me a cup.
- 志强 Zhiqiang你要用哪个杯子？Nǐ yào yòng nǎge bēizi?Which cup do you want to use?
- 梓涵 Zihan这个蓝色的杯子吧。Zhège lánsè de bēizi ba.The blue cup, please.
- 志强 Zhiqiang好的，给你。Hǎo de, gěi nǐ.Okay, here you go.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cup” translations and entries 杯子, 杯仔, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
