杯 vs 瓶 (bēi vs píng): cup/glass of vs bottle of
杯 (bēi) and 瓶 (píng) are both measure words for drinks, but they differ by container type. Use 杯 for drinks served in cups or glasses (e.g., coffee, tea, draft beer), and 瓶 for drinks that come in bottles (e.g., water, soda, wine). The choice depends on the serving container, not the drink itself.
Both 杯 and 瓶 are measure words used to quantify drinks, but they refer to different types of containers. 杯 is used for drinks served in a cup or glass (e.g., coffee, tea, juice, beer from a tap), while 瓶 is used for drinks that come in a bottle (e.g., bottled water, soda, wine). Some drinks can be ordered either way depending on how they are served: for example, beer can be 一杯啤酒 (a mug of draft beer) or 一瓶啤酒 (a bottle of beer). The key is to match the measure word to the container in which the drink is presented.
When to use each
Use 杯 for drinks served in a cup, glass, or mug – typical for hot beverages like coffee and tea, cold juices, and draft beer. It is the standard measure word for drinks consumed from open cups, especially in restaurants and cafés.
In casual contexts, 杯 can also be used for drinks served in paper or plastic cups (e.g., from a kiosk). For soup served in a bowl, the measure word 碗 is more appropriate.
Use 瓶 for drinks that come in a bottle, especially sealed or commercial containers like bottled water, soft drinks, beer bottles, and wine. This measure word implies the drink is still in its original sealed bottle, not poured into a serving vessel.
If a drink is poured from a bottle into a glass, you should switch to 杯 for the serving. For example, 'He poured me a glass of wine' would be 他给我倒了一杯葡萄酒, not 一瓶.
At a glance
| 杯 | 瓶 | |
|---|---|---|
| Container type | cup/glass | bottle |
| Typical drinks | coffee, tea, juice, draft beer | water, soda, bottled beer, wine |
| Volume implication | usually smaller (150–500 ml) | usually larger (330 ml–2 L) |
| Common context | café, restaurant, bar (service setting) | store, supermarket, takeaway |
| Sealed/bottled vs poured | drink is poured into the cup (open serving) | drink remains in original sealed container |
Examples
- 杯我要一杯咖啡。Wǒ yào yī bēi kāfēi.I want a cup of coffee.Coffee is typically served in a cup.
- 杯请给我一杯茶。Qǐng gěi wǒ yī bēi chá.Please give me a cup of tea.
- 瓶他买了一瓶水。Tā mǎi le yī píng shuǐ.He bought a bottle of water.Bottled water is sold in bottles.
- 瓶我要一瓶可乐。Wǒ yào yī píng kělè.I want a bottle of cola.
- 杯我在酒吧喝了一杯啤酒。Wǒ zài jiǔbā hē le yī bēi píjiǔ.I had a glass of beer at the bar.Draft beer served in a glass.
- 瓶他送了一瓶红酒。Tā sòng le yī píng hóngjiǔ.He gave a bottle of red wine.Wine is typically sold in bottles.
Common mistakes
- Using 瓶 for drinks served in cups (e.g., ✗ 一瓶咖啡 when ordering a cup of coffee → 一杯咖啡).
- Using 杯 for bottled drinks when the bottle is still sealed (e.g., ✗ 一杯水 when you mean a whole bottled water → 一瓶水, unless you’ve poured it into a glass).
- Confusing 杯 with 碗 (bowl) for soup – soup is usually 一碗汤, not 一杯汤.
- Forgetting that beer can be both 杯 and 瓶 depending on the serving style; using the wrong one can change the meaning (draft vs. bottle).
FAQ
- When do I use 杯 vs 瓶?
- Use 杯 for drinks served in a cup or glass (e.g., coffee, tea, juice, draft beer). Use 瓶 for drinks that come in a bottle (e.g., water, soda, wine, bottled beer). The key is the container the drink is actually served in.
- Can I use 杯 for any drink in a bottle?
- No, unless you have poured the drink into a cup or glass. If the drink is still in the bottle, use 瓶. For example, ordering a bottle of water is 一瓶水; but if you pour it into a glass, you can say 一杯水.
- How do I order beer? 杯 or 瓶?
- Both are correct, but they mean different things. 一杯啤酒 is a glass/mug of draft beer; 一瓶啤酒 is a bottled beer. Specify based on how you want it served.
- Is 杯 only for drinks?
- Primarily, yes. 杯 is a measure word for cups or glasses of liquid. For other containers, like bowls (碗) or boxes (盒), use the appropriate measure word.