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啤 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
beern, 11 strokes, radical 口, rank #12032, Hard
(pi2) T2
  1. 1beer
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(pi2)

The character 啤 (pí) refers specifically to beer, a popular alcoholic beverage made from fermented grains, typically barley. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, often seen on menus, in conversations about social gatherings, or when discussing beverages. The character is primarily associated with leisure and socializing.

Strokes11RadicalFrequency#12032DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, beer has become increasingly popular, especially among younger generations, and is often associated with social events such as barbecues and gatherings. The rise of craft beer culture in urban areas reflects changing tastes and the influence of globalization.

Memory Tip

Imagine a big glass of beer, and think of the sound 'pí' which is similar to 'pee'. Visualize someone drinking beer and accidentally spilling it, saying 'Oops, I peed on my beer!' The character itself combines the mouth radical 口, indicating something you drink, with a phonetic component that hints at its pronunciation.

Meanings of 啤

(pi2)
1beer
Exercise 1 of 3

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 啤

Simplified
11Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#12032Frequency Rank

Podcast: 啤

JasonAmy

Podcast:

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 啤

Quick Contrast

啤 (pí) vs 酒 (jiǔ) — use 啤 specifically for beer, while 酒 refers to alcoholic beverages in general.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a big glass of beer, and think of the sound 'pí' which is similar to 'pee'. Visualize someone drinking beer and accidentally spilling it, saying 'Oops, I peed on my beer!' The character itself combines the mouth radical 口, indicating something you drink, with a phonetic component that hints at its pronunciation.

Usage Notes

Avoid confusing 啤 with similar-sounding characters. It is commonly used in informal contexts, but can also appear in formal discussions about beverages. Common collocations include 啤酒 (píjiǔ, beer) and variations like 啤酒馆 (píjiǔguǎn, beer hall). Pay attention to the second tone to avoid mispronunciation.

HSK Study Tips

Although 啤 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, it is useful for learners at HSK 2 and above, especially those interested in socializing or dining out. Students should focus on collocations and phrases that include this character to improve conversational fluency.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, beer has become increasingly popular, especially among younger generations, and is often associated with social events such as barbecues and gatherings. The rise of craft beer culture in urban areas reflects changing tastes and the influence of globalization.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 啤 with other characters like 皮 (pí, skin) due to similar pronunciation. For example, saying '我喜欢喝皮' (wǒ xǐhuān hē pí) would incorrectly translate to 'I like to drink skin' instead of beer. Always use 啤酒 (píjiǔ) for clarity.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 啤

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Etymology of 啤

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 卑 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

mouth

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 啤?

Decomposition of 啤

IDS Structure⿰口卑
Full Character
=
kou3
left
bei1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 啤?

Write 啤

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 啤

啤 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 2

Complete the Sentence

请给我一打____酒。

Please give me a dozen beers.

Common Confusions with 啤

vs

Same pronunciation but different meaning.

vs

Similar sound but different meaning.

Exercise 1 of 1

Spot the Difference

Which character means "beer"?

or

Example Sentences for 啤 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他扔给马隆一罐啤酒,自己也拿了一罐。

tā rēng gěi mǎ lóng yī guàn pí jiǔ, , zì jǐ yě ná le yī。

He tossed Malone a can of beer, and took one himself.
2
他知道自己嘴里有股变味啤酒的馊味。

tā zhī dào zì jǐ zuǐ lǐ yǒu gǔ biàn wèi pí jiǔ de sōu wèi。

He was aware of the stink of stale beer on his breath.
3
一群人正站在一起痛饮啤酒。

yī qún rén zhèng zhàn zài yī qǐ tòng yǐn pí jiǔ。

A crowd of men were standing around swilling beer.
4
人们仍聚在那里喝啤酒,可能还会打会儿台球。

rén mén réng jù zài nà lǐ hē pí jiǔ, , kě néng huán huì dǎ huì ér tái。

People are still hanging out drinking beer, maybe shooting some pool.
5
这种酶会使啤酒更容易过滤。

zhè zhǒng méi huì shǐ pí jiǔ gēng róng yì guò lǜ。

This enzyme would make the filtration of beer easier.
6
这项新发明能保证啤酒始终保持丰富的泡沫。

zhè xiàng xīn fā míng néng bǎo zhèng pí jiǔ shǐ zhōng bǎo chí fēng fù de pào mò。

The new invention ensures the beer keeps a full, frothy head.
7
桌子上有两个空啤酒瓶。

zhuō zǐ shàng yǒu liǎng gè kōng pí jiǔ píng。

There were two empty beer bottles on the table.
8
他们在当地的酒吧里喝桶装的苦啤酒。

tā mén zài dāng dì de jiǔ bā lǐ hē tǒng zhuāng de kǔ pí jiǔ。

They drink bitter on draught in the local bar.
9
他爱说笑话,喜欢谈论啤酒和姑娘。

tā ài shuō xiào huà, , xǐ huān tán lùn pí jiǔ hé gū。

He cracked jokes and talked about beer and girls.
10
斯潘塞艰难地迈过一堆破椅子和碎啤酒瓶。

sī pān sāi jiān nán dì mài guò yī duī pò yǐ zǐ hé suì pí jiǔ píng。

Spencer waded through the debris of broken chairs and beer bottles.

Cultural Notes for 啤

💡Did you know?

In China, beer is often enjoyed with meals and is a staple at banquets and social gatherings. The most popular types include Qingdao and Snow beer.

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, beer has become increasingly popular, especially among younger generations, and is often associated with social events such as barbecues and gatherings. The rise of craft beer culture in urban areas reflects changing tastes and the influence of globalization.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

While beer is a global beverage, the social contexts in which it is consumed can differ; in China, beer is often served in larger containers and is a common choice for toasting during meals, unlike some Western cultures where smaller servings are more typical.

Word Family of 啤

Words Containing This Character8
啤酒píjiǔbeer (loanword)
beer
啤酒花hops
啤酒节Beer Festival啤酒節
啤酒肚beer belly
扎啤draft beer
生啤draft beer
生啤酒draft beer
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 啤酒 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 啤

Common phrases with 啤 include '啤酒' (píjiǔ), which directly translates to 'beer.' You might also hear '喝啤酒' (hē píjiǔ), meaning 'to drink beer.'