Chinese word

下午茶

Pronunciation

Pinyinxià wǔ chá

Meaning

  • nounafternoon tea

Example

我喜欢和朋友一起吃下午茶。wǒ xǐ huān hé péng yǒu yì qǐ chī xià wǔ chá

I like having afternoon tea with my friends.

Illustration for 下午茶 (afternoon tea)

More examples

她在酒店预订了下午茶套餐。tā zài jiǔ diàn yù dìng le xià wǔ chá tào cān

She booked an afternoon tea set at the hotel.

Core concept

A light gathering between lunch and dinner, centered on a drink and something small to eat.

Common phrases

  • 吃下午茶chī xià wǔ chá

    have afternoon tea

  • 和朋友一起吃下午茶hé péng yǒu yì qǐ chī xià wǔ chá

    have afternoon tea with friends

  • 去酒店吃下午茶qù jiǔ diàn chī xià wǔ chá

    go to a hotel for afternoon tea

Similar words

点心diǎn xīn: Small savory dishes or sweet treats served with tea or as a light snack.
零食líng shí: Everyday snacks or small amounts of light food eaten between meals.
聚会jù huì: A gathering where people meet to talk, eat, or spend time together.
茶歇chá xiē: A short break during an event for getting a drink and resting.

Definition in Chinese

指午后进行的休闲饮食或聚会，通常以茶或饮品配点心为主，用来放松或社交。zhǐ wǔ hòu jìn xíng de xiū xián yǐn shí huò jù huì tōng cháng yǐ chá huò yín pǐn pèi diǎn xīn wéi zhǔ yòng lái fàng sōng huò shè jiāo

Word origin

The compound 下午 (xiàwǔ, "afternoon") + 茶 (chá, "tea") links the time of day with its traditional centerpiece, while leaving room for modern drinks and snacks.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may associate afternoon tea with a specifically British meal, but everyday Chinese uses this word more broadly for a relaxed social break.

Other meanings

  • afternoon snacknoun

Opposites

  • 宵夜xiāo yèlate-night snacknoun

Related words

  • 下午茶套餐xià wǔ chá tào cānafternoon tea setnoun

Word lists with this word