A thirst-quenching guide to 218 beverages & drinks in Chinese

Bottoms up! Take a look at this guide with 218 drinks in Chinese to help quench your thirst.

Who doesn’t love a warm cup of coffee in the morning or an ice-cold beer at the end of a long day? When you visit China, you’ll want to have the vocabulary to order drinks along with your food. Otherwise, you won’t be able to enjoy your meals the same and may even get dehydrated, especially if you visit during China’s hot and humid summers!

One special reason why you’ll definitely want to learn about drinks and beverages in Chinese is to learn some cultural differences between Chinese and Western customs regarding drinks. As you probably already know, we must thank China for the immense contribution of discovering tea in 2,737 B.C. — almost 5,000 years ago! China has since developed a strong tea industry and a rich tea culture that is sure to impress you and your taste buds.

It’s also very important to follow proper drinking etiquette when consuming alcohol in China, especially if you’re visiting for business and are invited to drink with your Chinese colleagues. As you’ll see later on in the article, Chinese drinking culture is an essential part of doing business in China and you need to be prepared for it before you arrive so you can succeed. Otherwise, you risk not only spoiling your business deals but also getting a nasty hangover!

Finally, you might already know that there is no Chinese alphabet. As such, you’ll have to prepare in advance to learn the characters of at least a few essential drinks like water, coffee, and tea. We’ll also give you pinyin along with an intuitive pronunciation guide to help you order your favorite drinks right away.

Feeling thirsty? Let’s jump right into this refreshing guide!

Categories of drinks and beverages in Chinese

Before we get started, let’s break down the different categories of drinks in Chinese. Because we have such a large pool of knowledge in this article, we’ll take things section by section to prevent drowning in an overabundance of vocabulary words. That way, you can choose your favorite drinks and focus on those!

The must-know vocabulary words for alcohol in Chinese

Alcohol is a big part of Chinese culture. Consuming alcohol is seen as a bonding experience, so it’s typically a prerequisite for situations where forming a bond is critical, like work and family situations. So, before you’re caught off-guard, let’s take a look at some of the most common drink and beverage vocabulary in Chinese, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic!

Beer vocabulary in Chinese

When you think of beer, do you think of Germany, Czechia, and Belgium? Well, you might want to introduce China to that list as well! With three of the world’s ten largest beer producers, China is a peer powerhouse that just might have your next favorite beer. From local breweries to large commercial producers, you can find any type of beer you’d like in China. Here are some of the most common types of beer in Chinese.

Beer brands in Chinese

If you already know exactly what you want, then you can simply ask for your favorite beer brand in Chinese. Some beers have very simple transliterations, so saying “Corona” will probably get you what you want, while others have direct translations that sound nothing like the English name. Thus, keep this guide to Chinese beer brands handy for the next time you go to the bar!

Wine vocabulary in Chinese

Wine connoisseurs may think of places like Southern Europe, Northern California, and Argentina when they think of wine regions, but did you know that China is the fifth-largest producer of wine in the world? That’s right! Next time you’re in China, you can taste some of the delicious wine from the Shandong, Hebei, and Xinjiang regions.

Cocktail vocabulary in Chinese

Everyone deserves a cocktail at the end of a long workweek. If you’re looking to order your favorite drink in Chinese or are feeling adventurous, here are 25 of the best cocktails in Chinese.

Liquor vocabulary in Chinese

Liquor in Chinese is quite simply 酒 (jiǔ), which you’ll usually see as the last character of specific types of liquor, like 白酒 (baijiu) and 金酒 (gin). Another word you should be familiar with is 劝酒 (quàn jiǔ), which is the Chinese social practice of pressuring your friends and colleagues to drink. For better or for worse, Chinese cultural practices call for encouraging everyone to drink as much as possible, so overdrinking is quite common.

We’ll show you how to politely turn down any invitations to 劝酒 (quàn jiǔ) as well as a few ways to actively deal with it later in this article. For now, we’ll just delve into how to say different types of liquor in Chinese.

Liquor brands in Chinese

Okay, now you know how to ask for a certain type of liquor, but what about when you know which bottle you have? After all, the brand is almost as important as the type of liquor, so you should know how to order the brand you want. Here are some of the most popular liquor brands in Chinese.

The must-know vocabulary words for soft drinks in Chinese

If you’re not in the mood for libations, then you should order one of the many soft drinks available in China. In particular, you’ll find that tea is very popular in its many variations across China, including hot tea, fruit tea, milk tea, and more. Let’s take a look at some soft drinks.

Fruit juice in Chinese

Fruit is very popular in China, which is no wonder considering it has dozens of delicious local fruits. From lychee to dragon fruit, you’ll be able to find some delicious new fruit juices as you work your way through China. Of course, you can also find some of the fruits you’re used to back home, including apples, grapes, and oranges. We recommend pear juice while in China as the pears are much bigger and juicier there.

Milk drinks in Chinese

Milk-based drinks are very popular in China, especially soy milk and flavored milk. You’ll be able to find many flavors of regular and soy milk at any convenience store, especially from the Vitasoy brand. Here are some of the most common milk beverages in Chinese:

Soda in Chinese

Soda is very popular all over China. You’ll be able to find the most common sodas like Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Sprite, and Fanta in virtually any restaurant and street vendor, along with some other soft drinks like Red Bull and tonic water.

Tea in Chinese

Tea has an incredibly rich cultural history in China, and traditional tea ceremonies involve several steps to ensure the best flavor of the tea. The ceremony usually involves various tools like a teapot, teacups, a tea scoop, tea tongs, and more. However, if you want to brew Chinese tea at home, all you need is a teapot, loose-leaf tea, some hot water, and a teacup.

If brewing pu’er or oolong tea, then you’ll want to rinse the tea with a quick pour of hot water and immediate disposal to awaken the tea and remove any debris. This first pour is usually poured over a tea pet, but you can just throw it out if you don’t have one. Enjoy the subsequent brews and remember to share your tea with your loved ones!

Bubble tea in Chinese

Bubble tea has taken China by storm over the past couple of decades. Iced milk tea with tapioca balls and various toppings has become the trendiest treat among young people in China, with many choosing to pick up a bubble tea as they run their errands or have a leisurely evening walk. You may have noticed bubble tea shops start popping up in your home country, but nothing comes close to the real deal. Here are some of the most common types of bubble tea in Chinese:

Bubble tea toppings

The beauty of bubble tea is how highly customizable it is. If you’ve ever had a boba before, then you know that you can add countless toppings, flavors, and textures to make your cup perfect for you. Here are some common bubble tea toppings in Chinese:

Coffee in Chinese

Coffee has become a major phenomenon in China over the last few years. However, the coffee culture in China is different from the West, where many need to have coffee first thing in the morning just to function. In China, coffee is seen as an afternoon treat or something you have just to enjoy the taste of it, so you’ll find that going to the 咖啡馆 (kā fēi guǎn) is more often a social activity rather than a straight necessity.

Here’s how to order coffee in Chinese, no matter what kind of coffee you prefer:

Coffee flavors

If you like your coffee with a little flavor in it, then you’re probably already wondering if you’ll be able to find your vanilla soy latte in China. And the answer is yes! Most coffee shops will be able to accommodate popular coffee flavors like caramel, hazelnut, vanilla, and more. And, if you’re really lucky, you might run into a coffee festival where you’ll find some fun coffee flavors like a red bean latte or even a hotpot-flavored coffee!

Here’s how to order coffee in Chinese, just how you like it:

The must-know vocabulary words related to water in Chinese

Water is the source of all life, so you’ll definitely want to know how to order water when you’re in China. If you’re from the United States, then you’re probably used to getting a large glass of iced water as soon as you sit down at your table at a restaurant. However, this isn’t the case in China, so you’ll want to know how to order water to stay hydrated.

Why do Chinese people drink hot water?

If you’ve been to China before, then you already know that hot water is a big deal. In fact, you’ll be able to find boiling hot water dispensers almost anywhere while room temperature water is much less common.

The massive surge in popularity of hot water is in large part due to the public service announcements from the Nationalist government in the 1930s. Drinking hot water was seen as more sanitary than drinking regular water and therefore healthier. To this day, you’ll see drinking hot water pushed as one of the healthiest things a person can do. If you get sick, you’ll surely hear recommendations from your friends to “多喝热水” (duō hē rè shuǐ), or to drink more warm water.

This also has its roots in traditional Chinese medicine, as hot water has been referenced as a healthful necessity for thousands of years. The Huangdi Neijing, known as The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine in English, is considered one of the foundational texts of traditional Chinese medicine. In it, drinking hot water is promoted as a way to stay healthy, which is another important reason why hot water has been so popular in China for so long.

Alcohol drinking culture in China

Drinking in China is serious business. No, literally. While having a cold one can be a casual way to de-stress with your friends, drinking in China generally comes with more strings attached. You’ll find that many people will encourage others to drink, resulting in a room full of people who’ve had one too many. Don’t be alarmed, though, as drinking too much isn’t seen as negatively as in the West. In fact, getting drunk shows that you trust the people that you’re with and value your relationship with them, which is why it’s considered a form of team building when it comes to drinking culture in China.

That’s why you’ll often go drinking with your new colleagues or potential clients before closing the deals. Getting drunk with people you’re trying to forge a professional relationship with shows that you trust them enough to let your guard down around them, and trust is a critical part of any relationship.

While building trust with those around you sounds great, that also means that it is difficult to refuse a drink politely. In general, you’ll be in a hard position to say no to drinking if you find yourself in any of the following scenarios:

1. You’re drinking with superiors. If you’re invited to a drinking event with coworkers and any of your superiors are there, you can count on being pressured to drink. And if you want to make a good impression, you’ll have to at the very least keep up with their drinking!
2. You’re drinking with your clients. Since you’re the one chasing after the sale, you will want to one-up your clients by always being one glass ahead in terms of drinking.
3. You have a higher standing than the people present. For example, if you have a high-paying job in a big city and visit a small town, the locals will toast in your honor. If you refuse it or don’t drink as much as they do, then you would be essentially implying that you don’t value them much.

So, what if you don’t want to get drunk at work events but also don’t want to lose face? If you don’t drink at all, then the easiest thing to do is to say that you have an alcohol allergy and drinking even the tiniest bit of alcohol will make you feel itchy all over. If you do drink regularly but don’t feel like drinking on a particular night for any reason, you can say that you’re getting over a cold and are taking some strong medication that would react poorly if you were to drink alcohol.

If you do want to drink and simply don’t want to get wasted while making a good impression on your guests, here are some tips to minimize your alcohol consumption in China:

• Try to talk as much as possible with your buddies. This will minimize the chances of someone calling you for a toast.
• Call the shots. If you’re the first one to call for group toasts, you will be the one dictating how much everyone’s drinking. For example, if someone toasts you by drinking the entire glass, that puts pressure on you to also drink your entire glass. But if you toast your peers by only having a sip, then nobody will feel pressured to finish the entire glass — and if someone does drink the entire glass, then you won’t have the pressure to finish yours yourself.
• Empty your cup discretely. Depending on how big the event is, you may be able to pour some of your drink into an empty bowl without anyone noticing.

In any case, once you’ve had some alcohol, you must brace for the worst. If you down a glass with someone, other guests will want you to do the same with them. And if you’ve downed a glass before, you’ll have a hard time explaining why you don’t want to do it again! So, just prepare for a fun night and try to make the most of it!

Proverbs about drinking in Chinese

Drinking has been an important part of Chinese culture for thousands of years, so it’s no surprise that there are many insightful proverbs about drinking in Chinese. Whether you’re looking for something to say next time you go out drinking or want to learn more about the importance of tea for Chinese society, here are some of the most popular Chengyu and sayings about drinking in Chinese:

FAQs about drinks and beverages in Chinese

1. What are the measure words for drinks in Chinese?

If you’ve been taking Mandarin Chinese classes for a while now, then you already know the importance of measure words. Luckily, there aren’t too many measure words to keep track of for ordering drinks, as most beverages come in cups. Here are the measure words for beverages in Chinese:

2. How do you order drinks in Chinese?

The most basic structure for ordering drinks is the following:

• 我要 + number + measure word + drink

This is the standard procedure for ordering drinks in Chinese and can be customized based on the number of drinks that you want, the type of container you want your drink in, and, of course, the type of drink you want. All you have to do is fill in the blanks with whatever your heart desires and, voilà! You’ve got yourself your perfect drink.

As you can see, the basic structure starts with 我要 (wǒ yào), which means I want. Another common way of ordering food or beverages in Chinese is to say 给我来 (gěi wǒ lái), which literally translates into “provide me with” or you can simply say 来 (lái).

If need be, you can customize your drink order even further. Here are some common customizations:

Drink size

If you’d like to choose a cup size, you can choose from one of the following:

• 小杯 (xiǎo bēi) — small cup
• 中杯 (zhōng bēi) — medium cup
• 大杯 (dà bēi) — large cup
• 超大杯 (chāo dà bēi) — very large cup

Where it gets a bit confusing is that you have to mention this after mentioning the measure word for the first time. So, for example, if you want to order two large coffees, you would say “我要两杯大杯咖啡” (wǒ yào liǎng bēi dà bēi kā fēi), which literally translates into “I want two cups of large cup coffee.”

Toppings

You can also specify if you want to add anything extra to your beverage by using the verb 加 (jiā), which means to add. You can also simply say 要 (yào) again to add any special requests or toppings. For example, you can tack it on at the end of your order if you want to add sugar to your coffee.

Temperature

You can ask for your beverages hot, cold, or room temperature:

If you do end up getting a cold drink, you will very likely be asked about ice. Ice in China is not as ubiquitous as in the US, and most convenience stores and even grocery stores don’t sell bags of ice as they do in the States. The reason is — you guessed it — the preference for hot water over iced water. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that most people prefer iced drinks with just a little ice. Here’s how to ask for the right amount of ice:

Sweetness

For drinks like coffee and milk tea, you’ll also want to specify just how sweet you want your drink. Here’s how to get the sweetness level right every time:

For here or to go?

Finally, you’ll want to specify if you want your drink for here or to go. Fortunately, you just have to learn two things: 在这喝 (zài zhè hē), which is “to drink here” and “打包带走” (dǎ bāo dài zǒu), which means for takeaway.

Now, it’s time to put it all together. Here are some examples of drink orders in Chinese to help you get started with your first few drinks in China.

Fun facts about beverages in China

As you can tell by now, drinks are extremely important in China, so there are many fun facts you should know about. Here are some of our favorites:

• Legend of the god of wine. In China, Yidi is regarded as the god who invented wine during the reign of Yu the Great. According to the legend, Yidi made wine as a present for Yu the Great, who appointed him to the task of winemaking. Today, The Yidi Award is a prestigious award given out to exceptional winemakers in China every two years.
• Earliest alcoholic drink in history. A group of researchers from the Penn Museum was recently able to use chemical analyses to prove that the earliest alcoholic drink was created in the Neolithic village of Jiahu about 9,000 years ago!
• Maotai awards. China’s national spirit brand, Kweichow Moutai, is one of the most internationally awarded brands in the world, being recognized with gold medals at the Paris International Exposition in 1985 and 1986. Since its adoption as the national liquor in 1951, Maotai has routinely been used to greet foreign heads of state and in high-level business negotiations.
• Medicinal liquor. Traditional Chinese medicine relies on special liquor blends to treat all kinds of diseases. Herbs and sometimes animals are soaked in wine to create infusions that will help correct the internal Yin and Yang ratio of a person, which is said to improve physical health.

Don’t leave until you’ve had the very last drop

This was a long article, yes, but that’s a good thing! Although it may be overwhelming at first to be faced with so many drinks in Chinese, the beauty of it all is that it just means that there are plenty of drinks for you to enjoy! From ice-cold beers to yummy milk teas, there’s no shortage of delicious beverages for you to try next time you visit China.

For more expert tips on learning Chinese and navigating life in China, be sure to check out our Mandarin Chinese blog. Some of our most popular articles include our guide to telling time in Chinese and our blog with 186 ways to say I love you in Chinese. Go check them out now and keep your learning going!