茶

• Pinyin: chá
• Hanzi breakdown: 茶 = 艹 (plant radical) + phonetic structure below — the tea plant

Meaning

Tea. The beverage made by steeping dried tea leaves in hot water.

One of the most culturally significant words in Chinese. Refers to both the beverage and the plant. China is the birthplace of tea culture. Common types include 绿茶 (green tea), 红茶 (black tea), and 花茶 (flower tea). Offering tea to guests is a fundamental Chinese courtesy.

Examples

1. 请喝茶。 Please have some tea.
2. 中国人爱喝茶。 Chinese people love drinking tea.
3. 我想要一杯绿茶。 I'd like a cup of green tea.

Usage Guide

Context: food, hospitality, everyday

Tone: warm

Do Say

• 你喝茶还是喝水？(Would you like tea or water?)
• 来，喝杯茶。(Come, have a cup of tea.)

Don't Say

• 红茶 means 'red tea' but refers to what English calls 'black tea' (Don't confuse 红茶 with actual red-coloured herbal infusions)

Origin & History

Composed of 艹 (plant radical) over a structure related to 荼 (tú), an older word for tea. The character was standardised during the Tang dynasty when tea culture flourished.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal