酒

• Pinyin: jiǔ
• Hanzi breakdown: 酒 = 氵(water) + 酉 (wine vessel) — water in a wine vessel

Meaning

Alcohol; wine; liquor. A general term for any alcoholic beverage.

Covers all types of alcoholic drinks including beer, wine, and spirits. Central to Chinese social culture, especially during banquets and celebrations. Can be specified as 白酒, 红酒, 啤酒, etc.

Examples

1. 他不能喝酒。 He can't drink alcohol.
2. 这瓶酒是我爸爸买的。 This bottle of wine was bought by my dad.
3. 中国人吃饭的时候常常喝酒。 Chinese people often drink alcohol during meals.

Usage Guide

Context: dining, social, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 你喝酒吗？(Do you drink alcohol?)
• 我请你喝一杯酒。(Let me buy you a drink.)

Don't Say

• 不要对开车的人说'喝点儿酒吧' (Never offer alcohol to someone who is driving)

Origin & History

One of the oldest Chinese characters, originally a pictograph of a wine vessel. The 氵 radical (water) was added later to indicate liquid.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal