奶茶
naai⁵ caa⁴
The English phrase "milk tea" is 奶茶 (naai⁵ caa⁴) in Cantonese.
奶茶 is a noun referring to a beverage containing a combination of cow's milk and tea. In Hong Kong and Guangdong, this term typically refers to Hong Kong-style milk tea, which is made with evaporated milk or condensed milk rather than fresh milk.
Meaning: beverage containing a combination of cow's milk and tea (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 奶 (naai5), meaning milk and 茶 (caa4), meaning tea.
How does it change in a sentence?
To specify iced milk tea, you add the word 凍 (dung6), meaning cold, to the front of the phrase to create 凍奶茶.
How do you pronounce it?
naai⁵ caa⁴
Did you know?
- In Hong Kong, 奶茶 is often called 'silk stocking tea' because the traditional cloth filter used to brew it resembles a nylon stocking.
- You can order a 'mixed' drink called 鴛鴦 (jyun1 joeng1), which is a combination of 奶茶 and coffee.
- The preference for evaporated milk in 奶茶 is a historical remnant of the British colonial era when fresh milk was difficult to store in the heat.
Examples in context
- 我想飲奶茶。ngo5 soeng2 jam2 naai5 caa4.I want to drink milk tea.
- 呢杯奶茶好甜。ni1 bui1 naai5 caa4 hou2 tim4.This cup of milk tea is very sweet.
- 你鍾意飲奶茶定咖啡？nei5 zung1 ji3 jam2 naai5 caa4 ding6 gaa3 fe1?Do you like drinking milk tea or coffee?
Example conversation
Meiling and Zhiqiang are at a cafe.
- 美玲 Mei Ling志強，你想飲咩？Zi3 koeng4, nei5 soeng2 jam2 me1?Zhiqiang, what do you want to drink?
- 志強 Chi Keung我想飲一杯奶茶。ngo5 soeng2 jam2 jat1 bui1 nai5 ca4.I want to drink a cup of milk tea.
- 美玲 Mei Ling好，我幫你買。hou2, ngo5 bong1 nei5 maai5.Okay, I will buy it for you.
- 志強 Chi Keung多謝你，美玲。do1 ze6 nei5, Mei5 ling4.Thank you, Meiling.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “milk tea” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
