Chinese word

啤酒

Pronunciation

Pinyinpí jiǔ

Meaning

  • nounbeer

Example

这杯啤酒很好喝。zhè bēi pí jiǔ hěn hǎo hē

This glass of beer tastes very good.

Illustration for 啤酒 (beer)

More examples

他买了一听啤酒回家。tā mǎi le yì tīng pí jiǔ huí jiā

He bought a can of beer and went home.

Core concept

A lightly alcoholic, sparkling drink made by fermenting grain, often with a malty flavor and a bitter edge.

Common phrases

  • 一杯啤酒yì bēi pí jiǔ

    a glass of beer

  • 一听啤酒yì tīng pí jiǔ

    a can of beer

  • 冰凉的啤酒bīng liáng de pí jiǔ

    ice-cold beer

Similar words

酒jiǔ: A general term for drinks that contain alcohol, including many different kinds of alcoholic drinks.
饮料yǐn liào: A beverage meant for drinking, with or without alcohol.

Definition in Chinese

啤酒是酒类的一种，主要由谷物发酵而成，酒精度通常低于烈酒，口感可带麦香或苦味。pí jiǔ shì jiǔ lèi de yì zhǒng zhǔ yào yóu gǔ wù fā jiào ér chéng jiǔ jīng dù tōng cháng dī yú liè jiǔ kóu gǎn kě dài mài xiāng huò kǔ wèi

Word origin

啤 (pí, "sound-based character") + 酒 (jiǔ, "alcohol") combines a character chosen for the foreign sound with the general word for alcohol, creating a Chinese loanword for beer.

Usage tips

  • In Chinese restaurant orders, specifying a bottle, can, or draft serving makes the form of the order more precise.

Opposites

  • 无酒精饮料wú jiǔ jīng yǐn liàononalcoholic beveragenoun

Related words

  • 啤酒节pí jiǔ jiébeer festivalnoun
  • 啤酒杯pí jiǔ bēibeer glassnoun

Word lists with this word