酒
jiǔ · alcohol / wine / liquor💡 How to pronounce
j → like the 'j' in 'jeep' but with tongue flat. iǔ → like 'yo' but with a falling-rising tone.
📖 The Story
酒 is the drink of celebration and ceremony. The character shows a wine jar (酉) with liquid (氵) inside. Wine has been part of Chinese culture for over 5,000 years — used in rituals, poetry, and toasts.
🎬 In Culture Today
Toasts are an essential part of Chinese dining. The traditional toast is 'Ganbei!' (干杯) — which means 'dry cup!' — you're expected to finish your glass. In movies, wine is often the setting for important scenes.
📚 Words
喝酒to drink alcohol
啤酒beer
白酒white liquor / baijiu
酒店hotel / bar
📝 Example Sentences
我们干杯！
Cheers!
他喜欢喝啤酒。
He likes drinking beer.