Sip and Learn: Chinese Beverage Vocabulary for Beginners

This series of posts introduce Chinese vocabulary on various topics of food as follow:

🥗 Common Food Vocabulary
🍎 Fruit
🥦 Vegetable
🌭 Fast Food
🥛 Beverage
🎂 Dessert
🥟 Chinese Food

Chinese beverage vocabulary are helpful for us to explore the diverse world of beverages in Chinese. From traditional teas to modern-day favourite, mastering these words not only helps you order with confidence but also offers a taste of China’s rich culinary traditions. In this blog post, we’ll introduce you to some essential beverage words in Chinese, perfect for beginners looking to expand their vocabulary while quenching their thirst for knowledge.

Common Beverage Words in Chinese

In Chinese, there are only several types of beverage: water based 水, tea 茶 and coffee 咖啡, dairy based 奶, juice based 汁, or alcoholic drinks 酒. Let’s have a look at 汁 (jiuce) . Basically when we want to say a juice of a certain fruit, we put the name of the fruit in front of 汁: 苹果汁 – apple juice; 橙汁 – orange juice; 椰子汁 -coconut juice; 西瓜汁 -watermelon juice…

水 (shuǐ) – Water:
水 is the most fundamental beverage, keeping you hydrated and refreshed.

牛奶 (niú nǎi) – Milk:
牛奶 is a primary ingredient for many desserts, like puddings and milkshakes.

酸奶 (suān nǎi) – Yogurt:
酸奶 is a creamy and tangy dessert often enjoyed with fruit or honey.

奶昔 (nǎi xī) – Milkshake:
奶昔 is a thick, sweet beverage made by blending milk and ice cream.

思慕雪 (sī mù xuě) – Smoothie:
思慕雪 is a healthy and fruity drink that can also be enjoyed as a dessert.

苏打水 (sū dá shuǐ) – Soda:
苏打水 is a fizzy and carbonated drink, available in various flavors.

可乐 (kě lè) – Cola:
可乐, or cola, is a popular carbonated beverage known for its sweetness

果汁 (guǒ zhī) – Juice:
果汁 encompasses a wide range of fruit juices, each with its unique flavor.

豆奶 (dòu nǎi) – Soy Milk:
豆奶 is a dairy-free alternative made from soybeans, commonly enjoyed with breakfast or as a snack.

咖啡 (kāfēi) – Coffee:
咖啡 is a beloved beverage worldwide, available in various styles from espresso to cappuccino.

葡萄酒 (pútáojiǔ) – Wine:
葡萄酒 is a classic alcoholic beverage often enjoyed during special occasions and meals.

啤酒 (píjiǔ) – Beer:
啤酒 is a popular and refreshing drink, especially during social gatherings and celebrations.

茶 (chá) – Tea:
茶 holds a special place in Chinese culture, with a wide range of flavors and varieties.

冰茶 (bīng chá) – Iced Tea:
冰茶 is perfect for cooling down on a hot day, often served with ice cubes and a slice of lemon.

奶茶 (nǎi chá) – Bubble Tea:
奶茶, or bubble tea, is a Taiwanese invention loved for its chewy tapioca pearls.

柠檬茶 (níngméng chá) – Lemonade:
柠檬茶 is a zesty and citrusy drink enjoyed for its refreshing taste.

橙汁 (chéngzhī) – Orange Juice:
橙汁 is a breakfast favorite, known for its vitamin C content and sweet flavor.

草莓果汁 (cǎoméi guǒzhī) – Strawberry Juice:
草莓果汁 captures the essence of ripe strawberries in a delightful drink.

苹果汁 (píngguǒ zhī) – Apple Juice:
苹果汁 is a popular choice for kids and adults, known for its natural sweetness.

西瓜汁 (xīguā zhī) – Watermelon Juice:
西瓜汁 is a refreshing thirst-quencher, especially during hot summer days.

椰汁 (yē zhī) – Coconut Juice:
椰汁, or coconut juice, is a tropical delight, often served in the coconut itself.

Beverage Chinese Vocabulary

Youtube video: https://youtu.be/NNE5NsYTEqo

Sample Sentences Using Beverage Vocabulary

Let’s dive into these beverage words further with some sample sentences to aid your learning journey:

早上喝一杯牛奶是健康的。
Zǎoshang hē yī bēi niú nǎi shì jiànkāng de.
Drinking a glass of milk in the morning is healthy.

酸奶加草莓非常好吃。
Suān nǎi jiā cǎoméi fēicháng hào chī.
Yogurt with strawberries is very tasty.

我最喜欢巧克力奶昔。
Wǒ zuì xǐhuān qiǎo kè lì nǎi xī.
I love chocolate milkshakes the most.

你想要什么果汁？橙汁还是苹果汁？
Nǐ xiǎng yào shénme guǒzhī? Chéngzhī háishì píngguǒzhī?
What kind of juice do you want? Orange or apple juice?

夏天最爽口的饮料之一是冰茶。
Xiàtiān zuì shuǎngkǒu de yǐnliào zhī yī shì bīng chá.
One of the most refreshing drinks in summer is iced tea.

奶茶里的珍珠球是我的最爱。
Nǎi chá lǐ de zhēnzhū qiú shì wǒ de zuì’ài.
The tapioca pearls in bubble tea are my favorite.

我们可以喝茶或咖啡，你喜欢哪一个？
Wǒmen kěyǐ hē chá huò kāfēi, nǐ xǐhuān nǎ yīgè?
We can have tea or coffee, which one do you like?

Beverage Chinese Words Flashcards

We’ve made Beverage Chinese Learning Montessori 3-Part flash cards as shown in the image above. You can get them in our shop.

Learning beverage vocabulary in Chinese not only enhances our language skills but also allows us to explore the rich culinary traditions of China and the rest of the world. From the simplicity of water to the complexity of wine, these words open doors to a world of delicious options. Cheers! 干杯!

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