Water in Chinese
The Chinese word for "water" is 水 (shuǐ). 水 is water in every sense; at a table people specify its temperature or kind, such as 开水, 热水, 冰水 or 矿泉水.
Chinese words for water
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| 水 | shuǐ | water | The default answer. |
| 开水 | kāi shuǐ | boiled water | Water that has been boiled, usually still hot, for drinking or making tea. |
| 热水 | rè shuǐ | hot water | Hot water to drink, wash with or shower in. |
| 冰水 | bīng shuǐ | ice water | Ask for this in a restaurant when you want your water cold. |
| 矿泉水 | kuàng quán shuǐ | mineral water, bottled water | The usual word for bottled drinking water bought in a shop. |
Example sentences
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我想喝水。 | wǒ xiǎng hē shuǐ. | I'd like a drink of water. |
| 请给我一杯水。 | qǐng gěi wǒ yī bēi shuǐ. | A glass of water, please. |
| 这里有矿泉水吗？ | zhè lǐ yǒu kuàng quán shuǐ ma? | Do you have bottled water here? |
| 小心，开水很烫。 | xiǎo xīn, kāi shuǐ hěn tàng. | Careful, the boiled water is very hot. |
| 你感冒了，多喝热水。 | nǐ gǎn mào le, duō hē rè shuǐ. | You've got a cold, drink plenty of hot water. |
The characters in 水
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning here |
|---|---|---|
| 水 | shuǐ | water; a pictograph of flowing water. As a component on the left it is written 氵. |
Common mistakes
- 水 is not counted with 个: say 一杯水 (a glass), 一瓶水 (a bottle) or 一壶水 (a pot).
- 开水 means boiled water, not 'open water'.
- 水果 is fruit, not a kind of water, even though it starts with 水.
Related
Frequently asked questions
How do you say water in Chinese?
水 (shuǐ). Other ways: 开水 (kāi shuǐ); 热水 (rè shuǐ); 冰水 (bīng shuǐ).
How do I ask for water in a Chinese restaurant?
Say 请给我一杯水 (qǐng gěi wǒ yī bēi shuǐ) or simply 服务员，来一杯水. Add 冰的 if you want it cold, since water is often served warm or hot.
Why do people in China say 多喝热水?
Drinking warm or hot water is a widespread habit in China, and 多喝热水 (drink more hot water) is the stock advice for a cold or a stomach ache, so standard that it has become a running joke.
GraphChinese teaches these in an order where each word builds on the last, with audio, and only moves on when each one is proven. The whole course, HSK 0 through HSK 6, is $49 once for lifetime access.
Start at your true level