杯

• Reading: さかずき
• Romaji: sakazuki
• Kanji breakdown: 杯 (sakazuki/hai) — 木 (wood) + 不 (phonetic); drinking cup
• Pronunciation: /sa.ka.zɯ.ki/

Meaning

Sake cup; cup for alcoholic beverages. A small, shallow cup traditionally used for drinking sake.

Refers to the small, flat cups specifically designed for drinking sake, often ceramic or lacquered. Distinct from コップ (glass) or カップ (cup). The kanji 杯 is also read as はい/ぱい/ばい when used as a counter for cupfuls and glassfuls: 一杯 (いっぱい), 二杯 (にはい), 三杯 (さんばい).

Examples

1. 友達と杯を交わしました。 I shared a drink with my friend.
2. この杯はとても古いものです。 This sake cup is a very old piece.
3. 父は毎晩杯を手にします。 My father holds a sake cup every evening.

Usage Guide

Context: dining, celebrations, traditional culture

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 杯 combines 木 (tree/wood) and 不 (a phonetic component), originally referring to a wooden drinking cup. Sake cups have been central to Japanese drinking culture for centuries.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal