甜茶
tián chá
The English phrase "sweet tea" is translated into Chinese as 甜茶 (tián chá).
The term refers to tea that has been sweetened with sugar or, in specific cultural contexts, refers to a traditional sweetened butter tea.
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of the adjective 甜 (tián), meaning 'sweet' and the noun 茶 (chá), meaning 'tea'.
How do you pronounce it?
tián chá
When do people say it?
In the context of Tibetan culture in China, 甜茶 refers specifically to a traditional sweetened butter tea served in many tea houses.
Did you know?
- The Chinese word for tea, 茶, is the linguistic ancestor of the English word 'tea' as well as the Spanish 'té' and Hindi 'chai'.
- In certain parts of Yunnan, 'sweet tea' might refer to a specific style of Pu-erh tea that has aged to produce a naturally sweet profile without any added sugar.
- Ordering 甜茶 in a Tibetan tea house often brings a side of small, hard crackers used specifically for dipping or palate cleansing.
Examples in context
- 我想喝一杯甜茶。I would like to have a cup of sweet tea.
- 这家咖啡店有甜甜的茶。This cafe has sweet tea.
Example conversation
Two friends are ordering drinks at a cafe.
- 浩然 Haoran雨婷，你想喝什么？Yǔtíng, nǐ xiǎng hē shénme?Yuting, what do you want to drink?
- 雨婷 Yuting我想点一杯甜茶。Wǒ xiǎng diǎn yī bēi tiánchá.I want to order a glass of sweet tea.
- 浩然 Haoran甜茶太甜了吧？Tiánchá tài tián le ba?Isn't sweet tea too sweet?
- 雨婷 Yuting我不觉得，我喜欢甜的。Wǒ bù juéde, wǒ xǐhuān tián de.I don't think so, I like sweet things.
