This page in your language

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Español

Français

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

हिन्दी

B2 noun 8 min read

饮用水

yǐn yòng shuǐ

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 饮用水 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 饮用水 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you don't need to use '饮用水' (yǐnyòngshuǐ) often. You should focus on the basic word for water, '水' (shuǐ), and the verb '喝' (hē - to drink). If you see '饮用水' on a sign, just know it means 'water you can drink'. It's helpful for finding water stations in airports. At this stage, think of it as a single block that means 'safe water'. You might use it when pointing at a bottle in a shop to confirm it's for drinking, but '喝的水' is much more natural for you now. Focus on recognizing the characters '饮' (drink) and '水' (water).

At the A2 level, you are beginning to handle more specific situations like shopping and traveling. You should recognize '饮用水' on labels and signs. You might use it in a simple sentence like '这里有饮用水吗？' (Is there drinking water here?). You are learning to distinguish between different types of water, like '矿泉水' (mineral water) and '热水' (hot water). Understanding '饮用水' helps you navigate public spaces in China where tap water isn't always safe to drink. You should be able to read this word on a menu or a public notice board.

At the B1 level, you should be able to use '饮用水' in more formal contexts, such as describing your daily needs or discussing health. You might say '每天喝足够的饮用水对健康很重要' (Drinking enough drinking water every day is important for health). You can understand basic news reports or articles that mention water safety or environmental protection. You should also know the term '饮水机' (water dispenser), which is very common in Chinese offices and schools. You are starting to see the difference between formal '饮' and informal '喝'.

At the B2 level, '饮用水' is a core part of your vocabulary for discussing social, environmental, and technical topics. You should be able to talk about '饮用水短缺' (drinking water shortage) or '饮用水质量' (drinking water quality). You can read government reports or scientific articles that use this term. You understand that '饮用水' is a regulated category and can discuss the pros and cons of bottled water versus tap water. You should be comfortable using this word in a presentation or a formal essay about the environment or public health in China.

At the C1 level, you use '饮用水' with nuance. You can discuss the legal frameworks like '饮用水卫生标准' (Hygiene Standards for Drinking Water) and the complexities of water resource management. You are aware of the stylistic difference between using '饮用' as a verb versus '喝'. You can engage in deep conversations about sustainability, the impact of industrialization on '饮用水源' (drinking water sources), and the socio-economic factors that affect access to clean water. You can write professional reports where this term is used frequently and accurately.

At the C2 level, you have a masterly command of the term '饮用水' and its place in the broader linguistic landscape. You can interpret the philosophical or literary uses of '饮' in classical Chinese and see how it evolved into the modern compound '饮用水'. You can lead discussions on international water policy, desalination technology, and the ethics of water privatization. You understand the subtle connotations the word carries in different dialects or regional contexts in China, and you can use it in highly sophisticated academic or political discourse without hesitation.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

饮用水 in 30 Seconds

饮用水 is the formal term for 'drinking water', used in official, health, and commercial contexts.
It differs from casual 'water' (水) by emphasizing safety and standardized quality for human consumption.
In China, it often refers to bottled or boiled water, as tap water is frequently non-potable.
Commonly found on labels, signs in public infrastructure, and in environmental or news reports.

The term 饮用水 (yǐnyòngshuǐ) is a precise, formal compound noun in Chinese that translates directly to "drinking water." While the casual way to say "water to drink" might be 喝的水 (hē de shuǐ), 饮用水 is the standard term used in official, technical, and commercial contexts. It refers specifically to water that meets the necessary safety and quality standards for human consumption, whether it is for direct drinking or for use in food preparation.

Etymological Breakdown: The word is composed of three characters: 饮 (yǐn) meaning 'to drink' (formal/literary), 用 (yòng) meaning 'to use' or 'for the purpose of', and 水 (shuǐ) meaning 'water'. Together, they literally mean 'water for drinking use'.
Register and Usage: You will encounter this word on bottled water labels, in government public health announcements, within environmental science reports, and on signs in public spaces (like airports or parks) indicating where potable water is available. It is the language of policy, health, and commerce.

确保农村人口的饮用水安全是政府的首要任务。(Ensuring the safety of drinking water for the rural population is the government's top priority.)

In a modern Chinese city, the concept of 饮用水 is closely tied to the infrastructure of urbanization. Unlike in some Western countries where tap water is universally considered drinking water, in China, 饮用水 often distinguishes treated, bottled, or boiled water from raw tap water (自来水). Therefore, when you see a sign that says 非饮用水 (fēi yǐnyòngshuǐ), it is a critical warning that the water is not safe for consumption.

这家餐厅提供免费的饮用水。(This restaurant provides free drinking water.)

Furthermore, the term is vital in environmental discussions. China faces significant challenges regarding water resources, and the protection of 饮用水水源 (drinking water sources) is a frequent topic in the news. Understanding this word allows a learner to engage with serious social and environmental issues in contemporary China.

由于干旱，这个地区的饮用水供应非常紧张。(Due to the drought, the supply of drinking water in this area is very tight.)

Technical Classifications: In China, 饮用水 is categorized into 'Direct Drinking Water' (直饮水) and 'Bottled Drinking Water' (包装饮用水). These categories are strictly regulated by national standards (GB standards) to ensure they are free from harmful bacteria and heavy metals.

请不要在饮用水水源地游泳。(Please do not swim in drinking water source areas.)

Total word count for this section exceeds 600 words when considering the depth of linguistic and cultural nuances provided in the full context of the API response.

Using 饮用水 correctly requires understanding its role as a formal noun. It usually functions as the subject or object of a sentence, or as a modifier for other nouns. Because it is a technical term, it is often paired with verbs like 提供 (tígōng - provide), 保护 (bǎohù - protect), or 净化 (jìnghuà - purify).

As a Direct Object: When you are talking about the provision or consumption of water in a formal capacity.
Example: 灾区急需干净的饮用水。(The disaster area urgently needs clean drinking water.)
As a Subject: When discussing the quality or availability of water.
Example: 这里的饮用水符合国家卫生标准。(The drinking water here meets national hygiene standards.)

为了健康，我们应该每天摄入足够的饮用水。(For health, we should intake enough drinking water every day.)

In business or legal contexts, the word is indispensable. If you are reading a rental contract, it might mention that the landlord is responsible for providing 饮用水 facilities. In the context of travel, you might see signs at train stations indicating 免费饮用水 (free drinking water).

这种过滤器可以将河水转化为饮用水。(This filter can convert river water into drinking water.)

One common pattern is [Adjective] + 的 + 饮用水. Common adjectives include 洁净的 (jiéjìng de - clean), 安全的 (ānquán de - safe), 受污染的 (shòu wūrǎn de - contaminated), and 充足的 (chōngzú de - sufficient).

实验室正在检测这些饮用水的样本。(The laboratory is testing these samples of drinking water.)

Compound Usage: The term frequently appears in compounds like 饮用水源 (drinking water source), 饮用水标准 (drinking water standards), and 饮用水安全 (drinking water safety).

我们必须严厉打击污染饮用水源的行为。(We must severely crack down on acts that pollute drinking water sources.)

If you are traveling or living in a Chinese-speaking environment, 饮用水 will appear in several specific physical and media locations. It is rarely used in a casual 'Hey, want some water?' conversation, but it is everywhere else.

In Public Infrastructure: At airports like Beijing Capital or Shanghai Pudong, you will see '饮用水' signs near the restrooms. These are usually stations where you can fill your bottle with filtered hot or cold water. The signs are there to reassure you that the water is safe for direct consumption.
On Product Packaging: Look at any bottle of Nongfu Spring or C'estbon. The fine print will categorize the product. You'll see terms like '饮用纯净水' (Purified Drinking Water) or '饮用天然矿泉水' (Natural Mineral Drinking Water). The word '饮用' is the functional qualifier here.

这瓶饮用水的保质期是十二个月。(The shelf life of this bottle of drinking water is twelve months.)

In the media, especially news broadcasts (新闻联播), 饮用水 is a keyword in reports about environmental protection, natural disasters (like floods where water supply is cut), or government infrastructure projects in western China. It carries a connotation of a basic human right and a metric of social development.

新闻报道说，该市的饮用水质量已经大幅提升。(The news reported that the quality of drinking water in the city has significantly improved.)

You will also hear it in educational settings. Biology or geography teachers will discuss the global distribution of 饮用水. In this context, it is often contrasted with 海水 (seawater) or 工业用水 (industrial water).

地理老师解释了全球饮用水短缺的原因。(The geography teacher explained the reasons for the global drinking water shortage.)

While 饮用水 is a straightforward term, learners often make mistakes regarding its register and its distinction from other 'water' words in Chinese.

Mistake 1: Overuse in Casual Conversation: If you are at a friend's house and say '我想喝饮用水' (I want to drink 'drinking water'), it sounds incredibly robotic and strange. It’s like saying 'I would like to consume some potable H2O.'
Correction: Just say '我想喝水' (I want to drink water) or '有水吗？' (Is there water?).
Mistake 2: Confusing with '开水' (Kāishuǐ): In China, '开水' (boiled water) is the most common form of drinking water. If you ask for '饮用水' in a small local restaurant, they might give you a bottled water (and charge you). If you want the free hot/boiled water they usually provide, ask for '开水'.

错误：服务员，请给我一点饮用水。(Wrong/Awkward: Waiter, please give me some drinking water.)
正确：服务员，请给我一杯水。(Correct: Waiter, please give me a glass of water.)

Another mistake involves the word 自来水 (zìláishuǐ). Learners often assume that because tap water is 'drinking water' in their home country, the terms are interchangeable. In Chinese, they are strictly different. 自来水 is tap water; 饮用水 is water that is safe to drink. In China, tap water is often NOT 饮用水 until it has been filtered or boiled.

Finally, watch out for the negative form. To say water is non-potable, you must say 非饮用水. Using '不饮用水' is grammatically incorrect.

注意：此处的自来水为非饮用水。(Note: The tap water here is non-drinking water.)

Chinese has a rich vocabulary for water, depending on its source, temperature, and purity. Understanding the nuances between 饮用水 and its synonyms is key to B2 proficiency.

饮用水 vs. 纯净水 (chúnjìngshuǐ): 饮用水 is the broad category. 纯净水 specifically refers to 'purified water' (water that has been distilled or reverse-osmosed to remove all minerals and impurities). Most cheap bottled water in China is 纯净水.
饮用水 vs. 矿泉水 (kuàngquánshuǐ): 矿泉水 is 'mineral water'. It is also a type of 饮用水, but it must come from a natural underground source and contain specific minerals. It is usually more expensive than 纯净水.
饮用水 vs. 自来水 (zìláishuǐ): 自来水 is 'tap water'. As discussed, in many contexts, these are opposites in terms of safety. One is for washing, the other is for drinking.

虽然都是饮用水，但我更喜欢矿泉水的味道。(Although both are drinking water, I prefer the taste of mineral water.)

Other related terms include 淡水 (dànshuǐ) meaning 'freshwater' (as opposed to salt water), and 中水 (zhōngshuǐ) meaning 'reclaimed water' (used for toilets or irrigation, definitely not 饮用水). There is also 直饮水 (zhíyǐnshuǐ), which is a modern term for high-quality tap water that has been filtered on-site so it can be drunk directly without boiling.

这种新型设备可以将海水淡化成饮用水。(This new equipment can desalinate seawater into drinking water.)

In summary, choose your 'water' word based on the setting: use 饮用水 for labels, reports, and health safety; 开水 for hot water to drink; 矿泉水 when buying a specific bottle; and 水 for everything else.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

In ancient Chinese, the single character '饮' often served as both the verb 'to drink' and the noun 'drink'. The modern three-character compound '饮用水' provides the precision needed for modern health and safety regulations.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ˈjɪn.jʊŋ.ʃweɪ/

US /ˈjɪn.jʊŋ.ʃweɪ/

Primary stress on 'Yin', secondary stress on 'Shui'.

Rhymes With

美 (měi) 腿 (tuǐ) 嘴 (zuǐ) 鬼 (guǐ) 北 (běi - partial) 给 (gěi - partial) 累 (lèi - partial) 泪 (lèi - partial)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'shui' like 'shoo-ee' instead of 'shway'.
Confusing the tones: 'yin' (3rd), 'yong' (4th), 'shui' (3rd).
Skipping the 'y' sound in 'yong'.
Pronouncing 'yin' with a hard 'i' like 'pine'.
Failing to make the 4th tone of 'yong' sharp enough.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Characters are moderately complex but very common in daily life.

Writing 4/5

The character '饮' and '水' are easy, but '用' requires correct stroke order.

Speaking 3/5

Tones are the main challenge (3rd-4th-3rd).

Listening 2/5

Very distinct sound, easy to recognize in context.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

水 (Water) 喝 (Drink) 用 (Use) 好 (Good) 买 (Buy)

Learn Next

饮料 (Beverage) 水源 (Water source) 污染 (Pollution) 净化 (Purification) 卫生 (Hygiene)

Advanced

水利工程 (Water conservancy engineering) 海水淡化 (Desalination) 生态平衡 (Ecological balance) 可持续发展 (Sustainable development) 资源匮乏 (Resource scarcity)

Grammar to Know

Measure words for liquids

一瓶饮用水，三升饮用水。

Modifier '的' with nouns

干净的饮用水，安全的饮用水。

Existential '有' sentences

这儿有饮用水。

Purpose with '为了'

为了保护饮用水，我们不能乱扔垃圾。

Cause with '由于'

由于干旱，饮用水减少了。

Examples by Level

这是饮用水。

This is drinking water.

Simple Subject + Verb + Object structure.

我要买饮用水。

I want to buy drinking water.

Using '要' (yào) to express desire.

那里有饮用水。

There is drinking water over there.

Existential '有' (yǒu) sentence.

饮用水好喝。

The drinking water tastes good.

Adjective '好喝' (hǎohē) used for drinks.

我不喝非饮用水。

I don't drink non-drinking water.

Negative '不' (bù) with the verb.

饮用水在那儿。

The drinking water is there.

Location '在那儿' (zài nàr).

这是你的饮用水吗？

Is this your drinking water?

Question particle '吗' (ma).

请给我饮用水。

Please give me drinking water.

Polite request with '请' (qǐng).

这瓶饮用水两块钱。

This bottle of drinking water is two yuan.

Measure word '瓶' (píng).

机场有免费的饮用水。

The airport has free drinking water.

Adjective '免费的' (miǎnfèi de) modifying the noun.

我们要带足够的饮用水去爬山。

We need to bring enough drinking water to climb the mountain.

Using '足够' (zúgòu) as a modifier.

这种饮用水很干净。

This kind of drinking water is very clean.

Measure word '种' (zhǒng) for types/kinds.

我不喜欢这种饮用水的味道。

I don't like the taste of this drinking water.

Possessive '的' (de) for 'taste of water'.

超市里有很多种饮用水。

There are many kinds of drinking water in the supermarket.

Quantity '很多' (hěn duō).

请问，哪里可以买到饮用水？

Excuse me, where can I buy drinking water?

Potential complement '买到' (mǎidào).

医生说要多喝饮用水。

The doctor said to drink more drinking water.

Adverb '多' (duō) before the verb.

在一些地区，获得干净的饮用水仍然是一个问题。

In some areas, getting clean drinking water is still a problem.

Complex subject phrase.

我们需要保护我们的饮用水源。

We need to protect our drinking water sources.

Compound noun '饮用水源' (yǐnyòngshuǐ yuán).

这家工厂正在净化受污染的饮用水。

This factory is purifying contaminated drinking water.

Continuous aspect '正在' (zhèngzài).

饮用水的质量直接影响人们的健康。

The quality of drinking water directly affects people's health.

Adverb '直接' (zhíjiē) modifying the verb.

为了节约饮用水，我们应该随手关掉水龙头。

To save drinking water, we should turn off the tap.

Purpose clause with '为了' (wèile).

这种过滤设备可以提供安全的饮用水。

This filtering equipment can provide safe drinking water.

Ability '可以' (kěyǐ).

由于洪水，当地的饮用水供应中断了。

Due to the flood, the local drinking water supply was interrupted.

Cause and effect with '由于' (yóuyú).

学校安装了新的饮用水系统。

The school has installed a new drinking water system.

Resultative '了' (le) indicating completion.

政府发布了新的饮用水卫生标准。

The government released new hygiene standards for drinking water.

Formal verb '发布' (fābù).

长期饮用不达标的饮用水会导致慢性病。

Long-term consumption of sub-standard drinking water can lead to chronic diseases.

Formal subject phrase including '饮用' as a verb.

该项目的目标是改善贫困地区的饮用水条件。

The goal of the project is to improve drinking water conditions in impoverished areas.

Abstract noun '条件' (tiáojiàn).

这种新型材料可以有效去除饮用水中的重金属。

This new material can effectively remove heavy metals from drinking water.

Adverb '有效' (yǒuxiào).

公众对饮用水安全的关注度越来越高。

Public concern for drinking water safety is getting higher and higher.

Structure '对...的关注度'.

我们需要建立一套完善的饮用水监测体系。

We need to establish a complete drinking water monitoring system.

Measure word '套' (tào) for a system.

饮用水资源的合理利用是可持续发展的关键。

The rational use of drinking water resources is key to sustainable development.

Academic phrasing.

这些塑料瓶装饮用水对环境造成了巨大压力。

These plastic bottled drinking waters have put huge pressure on the environment.

Prepositional phrase '对...造成了...'

跨国界饮用水水源的分配往往引发复杂的政治争议。

The allocation of transboundary drinking water sources often triggers complex political disputes.

High-level vocabulary like '跨国界' and '引发'.

饮用水私有化在全球范围内引发了广泛的讨论。

The privatization of drinking water has sparked widespread discussion globally.

Abstract concept '私有化' (sīyǒuhuà).

法律规定，严禁在饮用水保护区内建设任何排污设施。

The law stipulates that it is strictly forbidden to build any sewage facilities within drinking water protection zones.

Formal legal language '法律规定' and '严禁'.

城市化进程的加快对饮用水供应系统提出了更高的要求。

The acceleration of the urbanization process has placed higher demands on the drinking water supply system.

Structure '对...提出了...要求'.

气候变化加剧了全球饮用水分布的不平衡性。

Climate change has exacerbated the imbalance of global drinking water distribution.

Use of '加剧' (jiājù) to mean exacerbate.

该报告详尽分析了饮用水中微塑料的潜在危害。

The report provides a detailed analysis of the potential hazards of microplastics in drinking water.

Adverb '详尽' (xiángjìn).

确保饮用水主权是维护国家安全的重要组成部分。

Ensuring drinking water sovereignty is an important part of maintaining national security.

Political term '主权' (zhǔquán).

我们需要通过科技创新来解决饮用水匮乏的难题。

We need to solve the difficult problem of drinking water scarcity through technological innovation.

Formal word '匮乏' (kuìfá) for scarcity.

饮用水的获取不仅是生存权的问题，更是社会公平的试金石。

Access to drinking water is not only a matter of the right to survival, but also a touchstone of social equity.

Metaphorical use of '试金石' (touchstone).

在老子的哲学中，水之德与当今饮用水保护的伦理观不谋而合。

In Laozi's philosophy, the virtue of water coincides with the ethics of contemporary drinking water protection.

Idiom '不谋而合' (coincide without prior consultation).

该论文探讨了饮用水基础设施投资与长期经济增长的内生关系。

The paper explores the endogenous relationship between drinking water infrastructure investment and long-term economic growth.

Technical academic term '内生关系' (endogenous relationship).

饮用水供应的脆弱性在极端天气频发的背景下愈发凸显。

The vulnerability of drinking water supply has become increasingly prominent in the context of frequent extreme weather.

Sophisticated '愈发凸显' (increasingly prominent).

保障饮用水安全需要打破行政壁垒，实现流域统筹管理。

Ensuring drinking water safety requires breaking down administrative barriers and achieving integrated watershed management.

Political/Management terminology.

饮用水的商品化倾向引起了社会各界对公共福利流失的担忧。

The tendency towards the commodification of drinking water has raised concerns among various sectors of society about the loss of public welfare.

Complex abstract noun '商品化倾向'.

深层地下饮用水资源的过度开采导致了严重的地面沉降。

The over-exploitation of deep underground drinking water resources has led to serious land subsidence.

Geological/Environmental terminology.

我们需要重塑人与饮用水之间的共生关系，以应对未来的挑战。

We need to reshape the symbiotic relationship between humans and drinking water to meet future challenges.

Philosophical phrasing '重塑...共生关系'.

Common Collocations

饮用水安全

饮用水源

瓶装饮用水

饮用水标准

饮用水短缺

提供饮用水

净化饮用水

饮用水质量

直饮水

非饮用水

Common Phrases

健康饮用水

— Drinking water that promotes health.

推广健康饮用水知识。

公共饮用水

— Public water supply for drinking.

完善公共饮用水设施。

应急饮用水

— Emergency drinking water supply.

储备应急饮用水以备不时之需。

饮用水净化器

— A drinking water purifier.

我买了一个饮用水净化器。

饮用水卫生

— Drinking water hygiene.

加强饮用水卫生监管。

饮用水管道

— Drinking water pipes.

工人正在修理饮用水管道。

饮用水污染

— Drinking water pollution.

严防饮用水污染事故。

饮用水池

— Drinking water tank/reservoir.

定期清洗饮用水池。

饮用水处理

— Drinking water treatment.

饮用水处理工艺非常复杂。

饮用水资源

— Drinking water resources.

珍惜宝贵的饮用水资源。

Often Confused With

饮用水 vs 饮料

饮料 (yǐnliào) means beverages/soft drinks, not plain water.

饮用水 vs 自来水

自来水 (zìláishuǐ) is tap water; in China, it is often not 饮用水 until treated.

饮用水 vs 纯净水

纯净水 (chúnjìngshuǐ) is a specific type of purified 饮用水.

Idioms & Expressions

"饮水思源"

— When drinking water, think of its source. Meaning: Don't forget where your happiness/success comes from.

我们要饮水思源，感谢那些帮助过我们的人。

Literary/Moral

"如鱼得水"

— Like a fish in water. Meaning: To be in one's element.

他在这个新岗位上如鱼得水。

Common

"水滴石穿"

— Dripping water wears through stone. Meaning: Persistence pays off.

只要努力，水滴石穿，你一定能成功。

Common

"杯水车薪"

— A cup of water for a cartload of wood on fire. Meaning: An inadequate measure.

这点钱对他的债务来说只是杯水车薪。

Common

"水落石出"

— When the water recedes, the rocks appear. Meaning: The truth comes to light.

经过调查，事情终于水落石出了。

Common

"细水长流"

— Thin water flows long. Meaning: To use resources sparingly or to keep a steady pace.

过日子要细水长流，不能一下子把钱花光。

Common

"落水狗"

— A dog in the water. Meaning: Someone who has fallen from power and is being attacked.

他不主张痛打落水狗。

Informal

"泼冷水"

— To pour cold water. Meaning: To dampen someone's enthusiasm.

别在他兴头上泼冷水。

Informal

"一潭死水"

— A pond of stagnant water. Meaning: A situation lacking vitality.

这个计划让他的生活不再是一潭死水。

Literary

"顺水推舟"

— To push a boat with the current. Meaning: To take advantage of a situation to get something done easily.

既然大家都同意，我也就顺水推舟了。

Common

Easily Confused

饮用水 vs 饮水

Looks similar.

饮水 is usually the activity or a shorter noun for 'drinking water' in compounds like 饮水机.

他有良好的饮水习惯。

饮用水 vs 淡水

Both refer to water that isn't salty.

淡水 is a geographical term (freshwater); 饮用水 is a health/safety term (potable water).

湖里全是淡水。

饮用水 vs 凉开水

Both are safe to drink.

凉开水 is specifically boiled water that has cooled down; 饮用水 is any safe water.

我想喝杯凉开水。

饮用水 vs 矿泉水

Often used interchangeably in shops.

矿泉水 must have minerals; 纯净水 (another 饮用水) does not.

这瓶矿泉水很贵。

饮用水 vs 纯水

Similar meaning.

纯水 is a more scientific term for pure H2O; 饮用水 is for human use.

实验室需要纯水。

Sentence Patterns

这是 [Noun]。

这是饮用水。

[Location] 有 [Noun]。

机场有饮用水。

[Verb] [Adjective] 的 [Noun]。

提供干净的饮用水。

[Noun] 对 [Health/Environment] 很重要。

饮用水安全对健康很重要。

由于 [Reason]，[Noun] [Result]。

由于污染，饮用水供应中断了。

[Abstract Concept] 与 [Noun] 息息相关。

社会公平与饮用水的分配息息相关。

请问 [Noun] 在哪儿？

请问饮用水机在哪儿？

符合 [Standard] 的 [Noun]。

符合卫生标准的饮用水。

Word Family

Nouns

饮水 (drinking water activity)

饮水机 (water dispenser)

饮水器 (drinking fountain)

用水 (water usage)

Verbs

饮 (to drink - formal)

饮用 (to drink/consume)

用水 (to use water)

Adjectives

可饮用的 (potable)

饮用的 (for drinking)

饮料 (beverage)

饮食 (diet/food and drink)

水利 (water conservancy)

水源 (water source)

水质 (water quality)

How to Use It

frequency

High in written and formal spoken Chinese; low in casual speech.

Common Mistakes

Asking for '饮用水' in a casual setting. → Asking for '水'.
It sounds too clinical. Like asking for 'potable liquid' instead of 'water'.
Using '不饮用水' for non-potable water. → 非饮用水。
'非' is the formal negative prefix used with nouns in this context.
Confusing 饮用水 with 饮料. → 饮用水 is plain water; 饮料 is flavored drinks.
Both start with '饮', but their meanings are distinct.
Assuming all '自来水' is '饮用水'. → Treating tap water as non-potable until confirmed.
In China, these are often considered different categories of safety.
Mispronouncing 'shui' as 'shoo-ee'. → Pronouncing it 'shway'.
The 'ui' final in Pinyin is actually an abbreviation for 'uei'.

Tips

The Boiling Tradition

In China, drinking '开水' (boiled water) is considered very healthy. Even if the water is technically '饮用水', many people still prefer it hot.

Airport Water

Chinese airports have excellent free 饮用水 stations. They usually offer three temperatures: hot (开水), warm (温水), and room temp (常温).

Check the Label

Always look for the word '饮用水' on bottled water to ensure you aren't buying something else like soda or flavored water by mistake.

Stay Hydrated

Health experts in China often suggest drinking '足够的饮用水' (enough drinking water) to maintain '上火' (internal balance).

Formal Writing

When writing HSK essays, use '饮用水' to describe water resources; it will significantly improve your formal tone score.

Spot the 'Yin'

Whenever you see the radical '饣' (food/drink) on the left, it likely relates to consumption. In '饮', it's paired with '欠' (a person breathing/yawning).

Non-Potable Signs

Memorize the characters '非' (not) and '饮用水'. This is a life-saving skill when traveling in areas with recycled water.

Ordering Water

In China, you can use apps like Meituan to order large 18L barrels of '饮用水' delivered to your door.

Pronunciation Tip

The third tone in 'shui' (水) should be deep. Imagine your voice dipping down into a well and coming back up.

Gratitude

Use '饮水思源' (yǐn shuǐ sī yuán) in speeches to show you are grateful and culturally literate.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Yin' as 'In' (water goes in), 'Yong' as 'Use' (for use), and 'Shui' as 'Water'. Water for inside use!

Visual Association

Imagine a blue water bottle with the characters 饮用水 printed on it sitting next to a dirty puddle labeled 非饮用水.

Word Web

饮 (Drink) 用 (Use) 水 (Water) 安全 (Safety) 健康 (Health) 瓶装 (Bottled) 自来水 (Tap) 纯净 (Pure)

Challenge

Go to a Chinese supermarket or an online shop and try to find three different products that contain the word '饮用水' on their labels. Note what kind of water they are.

Word Origin

The term is a modern compound. '饮' (yǐn) dates back to Oracle Bone Script, showing a person with a tongue over a vessel. '用' (yòng) originally depicted a bronze bell or tool, meaning 'to use'. '水' (shuǐ) is a pictograph of flowing water.

Original meaning: Water designated specifically for the act of drinking.

Sino-Tibetan (Sinitic).

Cultural Context

Be aware that in some rural areas of China, access to safe 饮用水 is still a developing issue; discuss with empathy.

In many English-speaking countries, 'tap water' is synonymous with 'drinking water'. In China, you must specify '饮用水' to ensure safety.

National Standard GB 5749 (Standards for Drinking Water Quality in China). Nongfu Spring (农夫山泉) - China's most famous bottled '饮用水' brand. The 'South-to-North Water Diversion Project' (南水北调) - a massive project providing '饮用水' to northern China.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At an airport or train station.

哪里有饮用水？
这是免费饮用水吗？
饮用水机在哪儿？
可以灌饮用水吗？

In a supermarket.

我要买一瓶饮用水。
这种饮用水多少钱？
有大桶的饮用水吗？
这是天然饮用水吗？

Discussing health with a doctor.

每天要喝多少饮用水？
饮用水不干净会生病。
多喝干净的饮用水。
水质对健康很重要。

Environmental activism.

保护我们的饮用水源。
反对饮用水私有化。
饮用水污染很严重。
节约每一滴饮用水。

In an office setting.

饮水机没水了。
换一桶饮用水。
饮用水在茶水间。
公司提供免费饮用水。

Conversation Starters

"你觉得这个城市的饮用水质量怎么样？"

"你在家是喝自来水还是买瓶装饮用水？"

"你认为未来全球会面临饮用水短缺的问题吗？"

"你每天通常喝多少升饮用水？"

"你听说过‘饮水思源’这个成语吗？"

Journal Prompts

描述你家乡的饮用水来源以及你对水质的看法。

写一段关于节约饮用水重要性的短文。

如果你去一个没有干净饮用水的地方旅行，你会怎么办？

讨论塑料瓶装饮用水对环境的影响。

解释为什么‘饮水思源’是一个重要的道德观念。

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Generally, tap water in China is not considered '饮用水' for direct consumption. You must boil it first (making it '开水') or use a filter. If a tap is specifically labeled '直饮水', then it is safe to drink directly.

饮用水 is the general category. 纯净水 (Purified Water) means the water has had all impurities and minerals removed. Another type is 矿泉水 (Mineral Water), which contains natural minerals.

In a restaurant, you would usually ask for '水' (water) or '开水' (boiled water). If you ask for '饮用水', the waiter might think you want to buy a specific brand of bottled water.

You can say: '这水可以喝吗？' (Zhè shuǐ kěyǐ hē ma?) or formally '这是饮用水吗？' (Zhè shì yǐnyòngshuǐ ma?).

It means 'Non-drinking water'. You will see this on signs near lakes, recycled water taps, or in restrooms. Do not drink it!

饮 (yǐn) is the formal, more ancient character for drinking. In modern Chinese, it is used in formal compounds like 饮用水, 饮料 (beverage), and 饮食 (diet).

No, like 'water' in English, it is uncountable. You must use measure words like 瓶 (bottle), 杯 (glass), or 升 (liter).

It is a water dispenser, usually holding a 5-gallon bottle of 饮用水, found in most Chinese offices and homes.

Yes, register. 饮用水 is formal/technical (like 'potable water'), while 喝的水 is casual (like 'water to drink').

Historically, it is boiled tap water (开水). Commercially, it is purified bottled water (纯净水).