杯
Meaning in Englishwine cup
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Word context
What it means
杯 means a cup or cupful and functions as a counter for drinks served in cups. In everyday Japanese it can denote the physical cup as an object or the amount served, typically used after a numeral to count beverages.
Main meanings
- cup as a drinking vessel
- an amount equal to one cup; used as a quantity after a numeral
- the unit used to count glasses or cups of beverages
How to use it
Used after a numeral to indicate cups of beverages, especially tea, water, or sake, and to refer to the physical cup in menus or descriptions. In formal writing, it appears as a precise measurement; in casual speech it appears in everyday counting of drinks.
Variants and close terms
- cup as vessel — さかずき (sakazuki)
- counter reading — はい (hai)
Etymology
Phonetic evolution The kanji 杯 derives from the older form 盃 and carries the same meaning of a cup; the primary on'yomi is はい (hai), borrowed from Chinese bei, while kun'yomi includes さかずき (sakazuki) referring to the cup itself.
Word class
Noun (counter)