矿泉水

• Pinyin: kuàng quán shuǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 矿 = 石 (stone radical) + 广 (phonetic component); 泉 = 白 (white) + 水 (water); 水 = pictograph of flowing water

Meaning

Mineral water. Bottled natural water from a spring, containing dissolved minerals.

矿泉水 is the standard term for bottled mineral water in China. It is distinguished from 纯净水 (purified water) by its mineral content. In restaurants and convenience stores it is one of the most common beverages, and brands like 农夫山泉 and 怡宝 are household names.

Examples

1. 我有点渴，能给我一瓶矿泉水吗？ I'm a bit thirsty — could you give me a bottle of mineral water?
2. 出门运动的时候别忘了带矿泉水。 When you go out to exercise, don't forget to bring mineral water.
3. 服务员，请给我们来两瓶矿泉水，谢谢。 Excuse me, could we have two bottles of mineral water please?

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, food and drink, travel

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 天气这么热，多喝点矿泉水。(It's so hot — drink more mineral water.)
• 飞机上的矿泉水是免费提供的。(Mineral water on the plane is provided free of charge.)

Don't Say

• 给我一杯矿泉水，什么水都一样 (Don't treat 矿泉水 as a general term for all drinking water — 纯净水 is purified water and 饮用水 is the overall term for potable water)

Origin & History

矿 means mineral or ore; 泉 means spring or fountain; 水 means water. The compound literally means water from a mineral spring, describing its natural source and mineral content.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal