B1 noun Neutral 1 min read

一杯

yi bei /i⁵¹ peɪ⁵⁵/
Practice it

The phrase '一杯' is the standard way to quantify a single serving of a drink in a cup or glass.

Word in 30 Seconds

  • A measure word phrase meaning 'a cup of' or 'a glass of'.
  • Used primarily for liquids like water, coffee, or tea.
  • Essential for ordering drinks and social invitations in Chinese.

Overview

  1. 1概览：在汉语中，“一杯”不仅是一个数量词组，更是一个核心的度量单位。它由基数词“一”和专门用于杯状容器的量词“杯”构成。2) 用法模式：最基本的结构是“一杯 + 名词”。这里的名词通常是液体，如水、茶、咖啡、酒等。但在特定语境下，也可以指代盛在杯中的固体或半固体，如“一杯米”或“一杯冰激凌”。3) 常见语境：最频繁出现在餐饮场景中，例如点餐（“我要一杯可乐”）或招待客人（“请喝一杯茶”）。此外，在社交语境中，“去喝一杯”往往暗示着去酒吧喝酒或去咖啡馆聊天，具有社交属性。4) 同类词比较：与“一瓶”相比，“一杯”通常指即时饮用的量；与“一壶”相比，它的容量较小，更倾向于个人使用。在正式文学中，有时会用“一盏”来代替“一杯”，以增加文雅感。

Examples

1

我每天早上都要喝一杯黑咖啡。

everyday

I drink a cup of black coffee every morning.

2

王经理，请喝一杯茶。

formal

Manager Wang, please have a cup of tea.

3

走，咱们去喝一杯，庆祝一下！

informal

Let's go grab a drink and celebrate!

4

实验报告显示，加入一杯水后反应加速。

academic

The laboratory report shows the reaction accelerated after adding a cup of water.

Common Collocations

一杯咖啡 a cup of coffee
一杯茶 a cup of tea
再来一杯 one more cup/glass

Common Phrases

喝一杯

to have a drink

干杯

Cheers / Bottoms up

第一杯

the first cup

Often Confused With

一杯 vs 一个

'一个' is a general measure word for objects, while '一杯' is specific to the contents of a cup.

一杯 vs 一瓶

'一瓶' refers to a bottle, which is usually a larger, sealed container compared to a cup.

Grammar Patterns

数词 + 杯 + 名词 动词 + 一杯 再 + 动词 + 一杯

How to Use It

Usage Notes

The phrase is neutral and can be used in any social setting. In a restaurant, it's the standard way to order. In a home, it's used for hospitality. Note that '一杯' can also be used metaphorically in literature to represent a small amount of liquid or a moment of reflection.

Common Mistakes

English speakers sometimes say '一个水' (one water) which is grammatically incorrect in Chinese; you must use '一杯水' or '一瓶水'. Another mistake is using '一杯' to refer to the cup itself when you want to buy a cup at a store; in that case, use '一个杯子'.

Tips

💡

Using 'Yī bēi' for Social Invitations

If you want to invite a friend out, saying '有空出来喝一杯吗？' is a natural way to suggest meeting up.

⚠️

Watch the Tone Sandhi

Although 'yī' is 1st tone, it is pronounced as 4th tone (yì) before the 1st tone 'bēi'.

🌍

The Etiquette of Refilling

In Chinese culture, if a guest's '一杯茶' is nearly empty, it is polite for the host to refill it immediately.

Word Origin

'一' (yī) means one. '杯' (bēi) originally referred to a vessel for drinking, often made of wood, jade, or metal in ancient China.

Cultural Context

In China, serving '一杯茶' (a cup of tea) is the first thing you do when a guest enters your home. It represents hospitality and respect.

Memory Tip

Remember the character '杯' (bēi). The left side is '木' (wood), and the right side is '不' (not). Imagine a wooden cup that is 'not' empty!

Frequently Asked Questions

4 questions

“一杯”强调的是杯子里的内容物（如水、咖啡），而“一个杯子”强调的是容器本身这个物体。

在语境明确的情况下可以，比如服务员问你要什么，你可以指着菜单说“我要一杯”。但在大多数情况下，建议接上具体的饮料名称。

在中文食谱中，“一杯”通常指标准的量杯（约240毫升），但在日常对话中它只是一个模糊的约数。

不一定。在晚上或酒吧背景下通常指喝酒，但在白天或办公室背景下，可能指喝咖啡或茶。

Test Yourself

fill blank

服务员，请给我___热牛奶。

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: a

牛奶是装在杯子里的液体，最合适的量词是“一杯”。

multiple choice

下班后，张伟对同事说：“我们去喝一杯吧！”他最可能是想去哪里？

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: b

“喝一杯”是典型的社交用语，通常指去可以提供饮料的场所。

sentence building

想 / 我 / 喝 / 咖啡 / 一杯

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: c

汉语的标准语序是 主语 + 动词 + 数量词 + 名词。

Score: /3

Related Content

This Word in Other Languages

一杯 Japanese
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