About
The character for "cup" or "glass" originally existed in the traditional form 盃, which is composed of the component 不 serving a phonetic function and the semantic component 皿 indicating a dish or vessel. An alternative form, 杯, using the semantic component 木 for wood, emerged early on to reflect the common material used for such containers. Over time, the form 杯, with its clearer association with the wooden material of early cups, became the standard and predominant writing. The character's meaning narrowed from a more general term for certain vessel types to specify a drinking vessel for liquids.
Example Sentences Hide
我每天用这个杯子。
请你给我一杯水。
桌子上有三个玻璃杯。
他高兴地举起了奖杯。
世界杯决赛非常精彩。
这杯咖啡的味道好极了。
他为客人斟满了一杯红酒。
冠军的奖杯将被陈列在博物馆里。