烈酒
lièjiǔ
The English phrase 'liquor' can be translated into Chinese as 烈酒 (lièjiǔ). If unsure, use 烈酒. Wiktionary also lists 蒸餾酒 / 蒸馏酒 (zhēngliújiǔ).
Meaning: strong alcoholic drink derived from fermentation and distillation (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 烈酒 | lièjiǔ |
| 蒸餾酒 / 蒸馏酒 | zhēngliújiǔ |
The term 烈酒 is used to refer to strong alcoholic drinks derived from fermentation and distillation. It specifically emphasizes the high alcohol content or intensity of the drink.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 烈酒 literally means 'strong/intense alcohol'.
Which one should you use?
烈酒 is a common, descriptive way to refer to high-alcohol spirits. In contrast, 蒸馏酒 is a more technical and formal term specifically meaning 'distilled liquor'.
How do you pronounce it?
lièjiǔ
Did you know?
- If you are drinking a very high-proof liquor, a person might say it is 辣 (spicy). Even though it is not a food, the burning sensation of high-alcohol spirits is described using the same word used for chili peppers.
- When drinking 烈酒 in a professional setting, it is common to keep your glass lower than your superior's glass when clinking them together.
- Chinese culture has a concept called 酒品, which refers to a person's 'liquor character' or how their behavior changes when they are drunk.
Examples in context
- 请给我来杯酒，好吗？Could you bring me a glass of liquor, please?
- 你最喜欢哪种酒？What is your favorite type of liquor?
- 这种烈酒的味道很浓。Zhè zhǒng lièjiǔ de wèidào hěn nóng.The taste of this liquor is very strong.
- 他不小心喝了太多烈酒。Tā bù xiǎoxīn hēle tài duō lièjiǔ.He accidentally drank too much liquor.
- 这款烈酒是当地特产。Zhè kuǎn lièjiǔ shì dāngdì tèchǎn.This liquor is a local specialty.
Example conversation
Yuting and Haoran are at a bar choosing drinks.
- 雨婷 Yuting浩然，你想喝点什么？Hàorán, nǐ xiǎng hē diǎn shénme?Haoran, what would you like to drink?
- 浩然 Haoran我想尝试一下这里的烈酒。Wǒ xiǎng chángshì yīxià zhèlǐ de lièjiǔ.I want to try the liquor here.
- 雨婷 Yuting那种烈酒度数太高了。Nà zhǒng lièjiǔ dùshù tài gāo le.That kind of liquor has too high an alcohol content.
- 浩然 Haoran没关系，我喜欢浓烈的味道。Méiguānxì, wǒ xǐhuān nóngliè de wèidào.It's okay, I like the strong taste.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “liquor” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
