be1 zau2啤酒
Jyutpingbe1 zau2
Yalebē jáu
Definition
Beer; an alcoholic beverage made from fermented malted grains.
Example
colloquialdrink
How it's used
Ordering beer in a local cha chaan teng or dai pai dong often involves specifying the brand or simply asking for a beer. While the term is standard, locals frequently use the English loanword beer directly in casual speech. When referring to draft beer specifically, the term 生啤 is the standard way to distinguish it from bottled or canned varieties.
Measure word
bui1杯būiExamples
Let's go grab a beer after work.
Do you prefer canned beer or draft beer?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse the measure word for beer. While you can use 杯 for a glass, remember to use 支 for a bottle and 罐 for a can, as using the wrong one sounds unnatural to native speakers.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
