吸管
xīguǎn
The English phrase "straw" is 吸管 (xīguǎn) in Chinese.
吸管 refers to a thin tube used for sucking liquid out of a glass or container.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of 吸, which means to suck or inhale and 管, which means a tube or pipe.
How does it change in a sentence?
The most common measure word used with 吸管 is 根, which is used for long, thin, cylindrical objects.
How do you pronounce it?
xīguǎn
Did you know?
- The character 管 is a phono-semantic compound where the left side 竹 represents 'bamboo', as the earliest pipes and straws in China were made from bamboo stalks.
- The character 管 in 吸管 is also used to describe a person who manages or is in charge of something, such as a 'manager' or 'administrator'.
- In many Chinese tea cultures, instead of a 吸管, people use a small tool or simply sip from the vessel, making the word 吸管 much more associated with modern Western-style bubble tea than traditional tea drinking.
Examples in context
- 请问，可以给我一个吸管吗？Excuse me, can I have a straw, please?
- 可以给我一个吸管儿吗？Can you pass me a straw, please?
- 请给我一根吸管。Please give me a straw.
- 我需要一根塑料吸管。Wǒ xūyào yī gēn sùliào xīguǎn.I need a plastic straw.
Example conversation
A cafe where Xiaowen is ordering a drink.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen我要一杯冰咖啡。Wǒ yào yī bēi bīng kāfēi.I want an iced coffee.
- 浩然 Haoran好的，请问需要吸管吗？Hǎo de, qǐngwèn xūyào xīguǎn ma?Okay, do you need a straw?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen需要，谢谢你。Xūyào, xièxiè nǐ.Yes, thank you.
- 浩然 Haoran不客气，给你。Bù kèqì, gěi nǐ.You're welcome, here you go.
