茶
caa⁴
茶 (caa⁴) is the Cantonese word for tea.
The term 茶 refers to the beverage made from the leaves of the tea plant. When you want to be specific about the physical, dried leaves themselves rather than the prepared drink, you would use the term 茶葉.
Meaning: drink made from leaves of tea plant (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term 茶葉 literally means 'tea leaves'.
How do you pronounce it?
caa⁴
When do people say it?
The phrase 飲茶 (jam2 caa4), which literally means 'drink tea', is used to refer to the specific custom of eating dim sum.
Did you know?
- In Hong Kong, 絲襪奶茶 ('silk stocking milk tea') refers to a strong tea strained through a long cloth filter. The filter's appearance resembles a stocking, which gives the drink its name.
- In traditional Cantonese tea culture, you show thanks to your host by lightly tapping two or three fingers on the table. This gesture is a silent way of saying 'thank you' without interrupting the conversation.
- While 茶 refers to the drink, Cantonese speakers use the term 茶餐廳 ('tea restaurant') for a unique style of cafe that blends Western and Chinese cuisine, serving everything from macaroni soup to pineapple buns.
Examples in context
- 我哋冇晒茶喇。We've run out of tea.This sentence shows how to express running out of the beverage using 茶.Tatoeba #973645 by nickyeow, translation #64224 by CK
- 我唔鍾意綠茶。I don't care for green tea.This sentence provides an example of expressing a preference regarding green tea using 茶.Tatoeba #2962024 by nickyeow, translation #253292 by CK
- 你飲唔飲茶㗎？Do you drink tea?This sentence is useful for asking if someone drinks tea using 茶.Tatoeba #5738657 by nickyeow, translation #3378237 by Jesse
- 81 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yating and Junjie are at a cafe.
- 雅婷 Nga Ting你想飲茶定係咖啡？nei5 soeng2 jam2 caa4 ding6 si6 gaa3 fe1?Do you want to drink tea or coffee?
- 俊傑 Chun Kit我想要一杯熱茶。ngo5 soeng3 jiu3 jat1 bei1 jit6 caa4.I would like a cup of hot tea.
- 雅婷 Nga Ting好，我幫你叫茶。hou2, ngo5 bong1 nei5 giu3 caa4.Okay, I'll order tea for you.
- 俊傑 Chun Kit唔該晒你，雅婷。m4 goi1 saai3 nei5, ngaa5 ting4.Thank you very much, Yating.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tea” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
