Chinese word

自来水

Pronunciation

Pinyinzì lái shuǐ

Meaning

  • nountap water

Example

这杯自来水可以喝吗？zhè bēi zì lái shuǐ ké yǐ hē ma

Is this glass of tap water safe to drink?

Illustration for 自来水 (tap water)

More examples

很多人习惯把自来水烧开后再喝。hěn duō rén xí guàn bǎ zì lái shuǐ shāo kāi hòu zài hē

Many people are used to boiling tap water before drinking it.

Core concept

A steady supply of water arrives at homes through the public pipe network and appears at the tap.

Common phrases

  • 饮用自来水yǐn yòng zì lái shuǐ

    drink tap water

  • 烧开自来水shāo kāi zì lái shuǐ

    boil tap water

  • 自来水龙头zì lái shuǐ lóng tóu

    water faucet

Similar words

水道水shuǐ dào shuǐ: Water supplied through the water pipes of a house or building.
饮用水yǐn yòng shuǐ: Water made safe to drink through proper treatment.

Definition in Chinese

通过城市或乡镇的管网由自来水厂供给到用户的水，通常称为水道水。tōng guò chéng shì huò xiāng zhèn de guán wǎng yóu zì lái shuí chǎng gōng jǐ dào yòng hù de shuǐ tōng cháng chēng wéi shuǐ dào shuǐ

Word origin

The compound 自来水 (zìláishuǐ, "tap water") uses 自 (zì, "self") + 来 (lái, "come") + 水 (shuǐ, "water") to picture water that comes through a supply system instead of being carried in.

Usage tips

  • The source of water and its drinkability are separate facts, so local treatment and safety guidance still matter when deciding whether to drink it.

Other meanings

  • piped waternoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 自来水厂zì lái shuí chǎngwater treatment plantnoun
  • 自来水表zì lái shuǐ biǎowater meternoun

Word lists with this word