bēizi: 杯子 - Cup, Glass, Mug

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

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.

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 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.

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)`.

• 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.