百事可乐
bǎishì kělè
The English brand Pepsi is translated into Chinese as 百事可乐 (bǎishì kělè).
百事可乐 refers specifically to the brand Pepsi Cola. The term 可乐 (kělè) is the standard Chinese word for any brand of cola.
Meaning: the brand of drink (name)
What does it mean word for word?
The name 百事可乐 is a phonetic transliteration that also carries a positive meaning. The part 百事 (bǎishì) means 'all things' or 'everything', while 可乐 (kělè) means 'pleasant' or 'happy', together suggesting 'everything is happy/pleasant'.
Which one should you use?
百事可乐 is the full name for Pepsi Cola. You may also use 百事 to refer to the brand without specifying 'cola'. Additionally, 可乐 is the general term used for any cola, regardless of the brand.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The informal variation 百事儿 is used in certain parts of China, particularly in northern regions.
How do you pronounce it?
bǎishì kělè
Did you know?
- The phrase 百事可乐 is so positive that it mirrors traditional Chinese auspicious idioms used during New Year celebrations to wish for general prosperity.
- The choice of 可乐 for 'cola' was a deliberate move by marketers to ensure the foreign sound matched a positive meaning, a process known as 'phono-semantic matching'.
- While 百事 means 'hundred things' or 'everything', the number one hundred (百) is frequently used in Chinese culture as a metaphor for 'completeness' or 'totality'.
Examples in context
- 我喜欢喝百事可乐。Wǒ xǐhuān hē Bǎishì Kělè.I like to drink Pepsi.
- 超市有卖百事可乐吗？Chāoshì yǒu mài Bǎishì Kělè ma?Does the supermarket sell Pepsi?
- 请给我一罐百事可乐。Qǐng gěi wǒ yī guàn Bǎishì Kělè.Please give me a can of Pepsi.
Example conversation
At a convenience store, deciding on a drink.
- 志强 Zhiqiang你想喝什么饮料？Nǐ xiǎng hē shénme yǐngliào?What drink do you want?
- 梓涵 Zihan我想喝百事可乐。Wǒ xiǎng hē Bǎishì Kělè.I want to drink Pepsi.
- 志强 Zhiqiang那这里有冰的百事可乐。Nà zhèlǐ yǒu bīng de Bǎishì Kělè.Then we have cold Pepsi here.
- 梓涵 Zihan太好了，谢谢你。Tài hǎo le, xièxiè nǐ.Great, thank you.
