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酒水 (jiǔ shuǐ) — beverages; drinks (in a formal or commercial context, often at events)

Definition

A formal/commercial term for 'beverages and drinks,' used at events, hotels, and restaurants. Broader than 饮料 (everyday drinks) and covers alcohol too; more formal than the everyday 喝 (to drink).

noun
beveragesdrinks (in a formal or commercial context, often at events)
Measure word · 种

Examples

  • 酒水。
    Gōng sī tí gōng le miǎn fèi de jiǔ shuǐ.
    The company provided free beverages.
  • 酒水。
    Wǒ men xū yào mǎi yì xiē jiǔ shuǐ gěi kè rén.
    We need to buy some drinks for the guests.
  • 酒水。
    Zhè jiā jiǔ diàn de jiǔ shuǐ jià gé hé lǐ.
    The drinks at this hotel are reasonably priced.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

酒jiǔalcohol
水shuǐwater

酒 and 水 are parallel drink types, together meaning beverages.

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
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 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

水 is a simple drawing of water flowing.

Open 水 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6Alcohol & TobaccoBeverages

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