斟酒 (zhēn jiǔ) — to pour wine/liquor (for someone, especially in a formal or social setting)

Definition

斟酒 specifically means pouring wine or liquor (for someone), usually in a social or ceremonial setting. The verb 斟 emphasizes the careful, serving action — distinct from simply pouring water or tea.

verb
to pour wine/liquor (for someone, especially in a formal or social setting)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 斟酒。
    Wǒ bāng nǐ zhēn jiǔ.
    I'll pour you some wine.
  • 。
    Tā gěi wǒ zhēn le yì bēi jiǔ.
    He poured me a glass of liquor.
  • ，斟酒。
    Kè rén lái le, kuài zhēn jiǔ.
    The guests are here, hurry and pour the wine.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

斟zhēnpour
酒jiǔliquor

斟 'pour' and 酒 'liquor' combine to mean pouring drinks.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
斗斗dòudipper; cup
Sound part声符shēngfú
甚
甚shèn斟zhēn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

斟 combines 斗, a dipper or cup for pouring, with 甚, which gives the sound.

Open 斟 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
酉
酉yǒu酒jiǔ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

酒 pairs 酉, the original picture for this word, with 水 (water), added later to distinguish it.

Open 酒 →

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