杯子

bēizi

noun HSK 1 #3,817

Measure Word

一只杯子 zhī

Meanings

1 cup; glass; mug

Characters

Adding 子 to 杯 makes it specifically refer to the physical object (a cup / glass), rather than the measure-word usage.

Examples

这个杯子是我的。

Zhège bēizi shì wǒ de.

This cup is mine.

请给我一个杯子。

Qǐng gěi wǒ yí gè bēizi.

Please give me a cup.

Tips

usage

杯子 always refers to the physical container, while 杯 can also be a measure word. When ordering drinks, you'd say 一杯咖啡 (using 杯 as a measure word), not 一杯子咖啡.

Stroke Order

杯 bēi

子 zǐ