====== bēizi: 杯子 - Cup, Glass, Mug ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** cup in Chinese, how to say glass in Chinese, bēizi, 杯子, Chinese word for mug, measure word for cup in Chinese, 杯 vs 杯子, HSK 1 vocabulary
  * **Summary:** Learn the essential Chinese word **杯子 (bēizi)**, the general term for a "cup," "glass," or "mug." This guide breaks down the characters, explores its cultural significance in Chinese hospitality and social drinking, and provides over 10 practical example sentences. Understand the crucial difference between **杯子 (bēizi)** as an object and **杯 (bēi)** as a measure word to avoid common mistakes and speak more naturally.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** bēi-zi
  * **Part of Speech:** Noun
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 1
  * **Concise Definition:** A general term for a cup, glass, or mug used for drinking.
  * **In a Nutshell:** **杯子 (bēizi)** is your all-purpose, everyday word for a drinking vessel. Whether it's a glass for water, a ceramic mug for coffee, or a small cup for tea, **杯子** is the word you'll hear and use most often. It's one of the first nouns learners encounter because of its high frequency and simple utility.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **杯 (bēi):** This character is the heart of the word. It's a pictophonetic compound. The left side, **木 (mù)**, is the radical for "wood," hinting that early cups were often carved from wood. The right side, **不 (bù)**, primarily provides the pronunciation. On its own, **杯 (bēi)** means "cup" and is also used as a measure word (see below).
  * **子 (zi):** This is a very common noun suffix in modern Mandarin. It doesn't carry a specific meaning here but is attached to many single-syllable nouns to make them two-syllable words, which is a common rhythm in Chinese. It turns the abstract concept of "cup" (**杯**) into a concrete object, "a cup" (**杯子**). Think of it as a particle that makes the word sound complete and natural in everyday speech.
The two characters combine to form the standard, tangible noun for a cup that you can hold.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
While a cup is just an object, the act of using one is deeply embedded in Chinese culture, primarily through tea and alcohol.
  * **Hospitality and Respect:** The first thing a host will almost always do when a guest arrives is offer them a drink, typically a **杯**茶 (bēi chá) - a cup of tea. This is a fundamental sign of welcome, respect, and hospitality (好客, hàokè). Refusing the offer can be seen as slightly impolite, so it's best to accept even if you only take a small sip. The quality of the tea and the **杯子** used can also reflect the importance of the guest.
  * **Social Bonding and "Ganbei":** In social and business settings, drinking alcohol is a common way to build relationships. The term for "Cheers!" is **干杯 (gānbēi)**, which literally translates to "dry the cup." It's a call to drink up and show sincerity and camaraderie. Clinking your **杯子** with someone is a gesture of connection. When toasting someone of higher status, it's customary to hold your cup slightly lower than theirs to show respect.
  * **Comparison to Western Culture:** In the West, offering a guest a drink is also a common courtesy ("Can I get you a water or coffee?"). However, in China, the ritual of preparing and presenting tea is often more deliberate and serves as a foundational social lubricant. Similarly, while "Cheers!" is common in the West, the pressure and expectation behind **干杯 (gānbēi)** can be more intense, often serving as a key part of building trust and closing business deals.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
**杯子 (bēizi)** is used constantly in daily life.
  * **In Conversation:** It's the default word. If you're thirsty and at a friend's house, you'd ask, "可以给我一个**杯子**吗？ (Kěyǐ gěi wǒ yī ge bēizi ma?)" - "Can you give me a cup?"
  * **Shopping:** In a store, you'll see labels for different kinds of **杯子**, such as **玻璃杯 (bōli bēi)** (glass cup) or **马克杯 (mǎkè bēi)** (mug, a loanword).
  * **At a Restaurant:** You might ask the waiter for a clean **杯子** or an extra **杯子**.
The word is neutral in connotation and can be used in both formal and informal situations without issue.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 我的**杯子**是蓝色的。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ de **bēizi** shì lán sè de.
    * English: My cup is blue.
    * Analysis: A simple descriptive sentence using **是 (shì)** to link the noun with its attribute.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 请给我一个干净的**杯子**，谢谢。
    * Pinyin: Qǐng gěi wǒ yī ge gānjìng de **bēizi**, xièxie.
    * English: Please give me a clean cup, thank you.
    * Analysis: A common and polite request you might make in a restaurant or as a guest. Note the measure word for a cup object is **个 (ge)**.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 这个**杯子**里装的是什么？
    * Pinyin: Zhè ge **bēizi** lǐ zhuāng de shì shénme?
    * English: What is in this cup?
    * Analysis: **里 (lǐ)** means "inside." This sentence structure is useful for asking about the contents of any container.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 我不小心把**杯子**打碎了。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ bù xiǎoxīn bǎ **bēizi** dǎ suì le.
    * English: I accidentally broke the cup.
    * Analysis: This sentence uses the **把 (bǎ)** construction to emphasize what happened to the cup. **打碎了 (dǎ suì le)** means "smashed to pieces."
  * **Example 5:**
    * 你想用哪个**杯子**喝咖啡？
    * Pinyin: Nǐ xiǎng yòng nǎ ge **bēizi** hē kāfēi?
    * English: Which cup do you want to use to drink coffee?
    * Analysis: A practical question. **用 (yòng)** means "to use," and **哪个 (nǎ ge)** means "which."
  * **Example 6:**
    * 超市里有很多漂亮的**杯子**在打折。
    * Pinyin: Chāoshì lǐ yǒu hěn duō piàoliang de **bēizi** zài dǎzhé.
    * English: There are many pretty cups on sale in the supermarket.
    * Analysis: **打折 (dǎzhé)** means "on sale" or "to give a discount."
  * **Example 7:**
    * 桌子上有三个**杯子**。
    * Pinyin: Zhuōzi shàng yǒu sān ge **bēizi**.
    * English: There are three cups on the table.
    * Analysis: A simple sentence demonstrating counting objects using a number, the measure word **个 (ge)**, and the noun.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 这个**杯子**的质量很好，可以用很久。
    * Pinyin: Zhè ge **bēizi** de zhìliàng hěn hǎo, kěyǐ yòng hěn jiǔ.
    * English: The quality of this cup is very good; it can be used for a long time.
    * Analysis: **质量 (zhìliàng)** is a useful word for "quality."
  * **Example 9:**
    * 我每天早上都用我最喜欢的**杯子**喝茶。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ měi tiān zǎoshang dōu yòng wǒ zuì xǐhuān de **bēizi** hē chá.
    * English: Every morning I use my favorite cup to drink tea.
    * Analysis: **最喜欢的 (zuì xǐhuān de)** means "favorite."
  * **Example 10:**
    * 倒水的时候小心点，别让**杯子**满了。
    * Pinyin: Dào shuǐ de shíhou xiǎoxīn diǎn, bié ràng **bēizi** mǎn le.
    * English: Be careful when you pour the water, don't let the cup get too full.
    * Analysis: **倒水 (dào shuǐ)** means "to pour water." **满了 (mǎn le)** means "full." This is a useful imperative sentence.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
The most critical nuance for a learner to grasp is the difference between **杯子 (bēizi)** and **杯 (bēi)**.
  * **`杯子 (bēizi)` = The Object:** This is the physical noun. It's the thing you buy, hold, wash, or break. When you are talking about the cup itself, you use **杯子**. You always count it with the measure word **个 (ge)**.
    * `Correct:` 我需要一**个杯子**。 (Wǒ xūyào yī ge bēizi.) - I need a cup.
    * `Incorrect:` 我需要一**杯子**。 (Wǒ xūyào yī bēizi.)
  * **`杯 (bēi)` = The Measure Word:** This is used to count a "cupful" or "glassful" of something. It describes a quantity, not the object.
    * `Correct:` 我想喝一**杯**水。 (Wǒ xiǎng hē yī bēi shuǐ.) - I want to drink a glass of water.
    * `Incorrect:` 我想喝一**个杯子**水。 (Wǒ xiǎng hē yī ge bēizi shuǐ.)
**Common Pitfall:**
An English speaker might say "I bought a cup" and be tempted to translate it as `我买了一杯 (Wǒ mǎi le yī bēi)`. This is wrong. This sentence is incomplete and means "I bought a cup *of something*..." (like coffee or tea). The correct way to say you bought the physical object is: `我买了一个杯子 (Wǒ mǎi le yī ge bēizi)`.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[杯]] (bēi) - The measure word for "a cup of" or "a glass of." The most important related term.
  * [[干杯]] (gānbēi) - "Cheers!" or "To toast." Literally means "dry cup."
  * [[碗]] (wǎn) - Bowl. A common piece of tableware, often used for rice, soup, or noodles.
  * [[瓶子]] (píngzi) - Bottle. Another container for liquids.
  * [[盘子]] (pánzi) - Plate. The flat dish used for holding solid food.
  * [[茶杯]] (chábēi) - Teacup. A specific type of **杯子**.
  * [[酒杯]] (jiǔbēi) - Wine glass / alcohol cup. Another specific type.
  * [[玻璃杯]] (bōli bēi) - A glass cup (made from glass, **玻璃**).
  * [[马克杯]] (mǎkè bēi) - Mug. A phonetic loanword from English "mug."
  * [[餐具]] (cānjù) - Tableware / cutlery. The general category that **杯子** belongs to.