kěkǒukělè: 可口可乐 - Coca-Cola

• Keywords: kěkǒukělè, 可口可乐, Coca-Cola in Chinese, Coke in Chinese, how to say Coke in Chinese, Chinese brand names, brand localization in China, tasty and fun, 百事可乐, kekoukele
• Summary: Discover the fascinating story behind 可口可乐 (kěkǒukělè), the Chinese name for Coca-Cola. Widely regarded as one of the most brilliant examples of brand localization in history, this term is more than just a translation; it's a masterpiece of marketing. This page breaks down how the characters for “tasty” and “fun” combine to create a name that both sounds like “Coca-Cola” and perfectly captures the brand's happy, refreshing image for a Chinese audience.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): kě kǒu kě lè
• Part of Speech: Proper Noun
• HSK Level: N/A
• Concise Definition: The official Chinese brand name for the soft drink Coca-Cola.
• In a Nutshell: 可口可乐 (kěkǒukělè) is the Chinese name for Coca-Cola. It's a fantastic example of a transliteration that also carries a powerful, positive meaning. The name cleverly breaks down into two parts: `可口 (kěkǒu)`, which means “tasty” or “palatable,” and `可乐 (kělè)`, which means “joyful” or “fun.” So, the name not only sounds like the original but also tells you that the drink is “tasty and brings joy.”

• 可 (kě): A versatile character meaning “can,” “able to,” or “worthy of.” It often adds a sense of approval or possibility.
• 口 (kǒu): The character for “mouth.”
• 可 (kě): The same character, used again for its sound and meaning.
• 乐 (lè): Means “happy,” “joyful,” or “fun.” (Note: it can also be read as `yuè` for “music”).

The four characters combine beautifully:

• `可口 (kěkǒu)` - Literally “can mouth,” this is a common adjective in Chinese that means “tasty” or “delicious.” It describes something that is pleasing to the palate.
• `可乐 (kělè)` - Literally “can be happy,” this means “joyful,” “amusing,” or “fun.”
• Together, 可口可乐 (kěkǒukělè) creates a four-character phrase that evokes a feeling of “Delicious and Fun,” a perfect marketing message that also happens to phonetically approximate “Coca-Cola.”

The name 可口可乐 is a legendary case study in international marketing and cultural adaptation. When Coca-Cola first entered the Chinese market in the 1920s, the name was initially translated phonetically using characters that sounded similar but had nonsensical or bizarre meanings, such as `蝌蝌啃蜡 (kēkē kěn là)`, which translates to “Bite the Wax Tadpole.” This was a clear marketing disaster. Realizing their mistake, the company held a public competition to find a better name. The winning entry, 可口可乐, was chosen because it masterfully achieved two goals: 1. Phonetic Similarity: It sounds remarkably like “Coca-Cola.” 2. Semantic Excellence: It carries an overwhelmingly positive and relevant meaning (“Tasty Fun”). This contrasts sharply with purely phonetic translations like `肯德基 (Kěndéjī)` for KFC, which has no inherent meaning. It also set a high bar for its main competitor, Pepsi, which later adopted the similarly brilliant name `百事可乐 (Bǎishìkělè)`, meaning “Everything is Fun.” The success of 可口可乐 highlights a core value in Chinese naming culture, which prizes auspicious meanings and clever wordplay. It demonstrates to Western brands that a direct translation is rarely as effective as one that is culturally and linguistically resonant.

In everyday life, most people don't use the full, four-character name. It's almost always shortened.

• Short Form: The most common way to refer to or order Coke is by using the last two characters: 可乐 (kělè). If you go to a restaurant and ask for `一杯可乐 (yī bēi kělè)`, you will be served a Coca-Cola. It's the default “cola.”
• Differentiation: You would only use the full name 可口可乐 (kěkǒukělè) if you needed to specifically distinguish it from other colas, like Pepsi (`百事可乐`). For example, a shopkeeper might ask, “Do you want Coca-Cola or Pepsi?” (`你要可口可乐还是百事可乐?`).
• Brand Context: The full name is primarily used in formal contexts, such as advertising, on the product packaging, and in business discussions about the company itself.

• Example 1:
  • 我想喝一杯冰的可乐。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xiǎng hē yī bēi bīng de kělè.
  • English: I'd like to drink a glass of iced Coke.
  • Analysis: This is the most common and natural way to order a Coke, using the short form `可乐`.
• Example 2:
  • 很多年轻人喜欢用可口可乐配汉堡和薯条。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō niánqīngrén xǐhuān yòng Kěkǒukělè pèi hànbǎo hé shǔtiáo.
  • English: Many young people like to have Coca-Cola with their hamburgers and fries.
  • Analysis: Here, the full name is used to talk about the brand in a more general, descriptive sense.
• Example 3:
  • 你更喜欢可口可乐还是百事可乐？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ gèng xǐhuān Kěkǒukělè háishì Bǎishìkělè?
  • English: Do you prefer Coca-Cola or Pepsi?
  • Analysis: The full names are used here to clearly differentiate between the two competing brands.
• Example 4:
  • 妈妈不让我喝太多可乐，因为糖分太高了。
  • Pinyin: Māma bù ràng wǒ hē tài duō kělè, yīnwèi tángfèn tài gāo le.
  • English: Mom doesn't let me drink too much cola because the sugar content is too high.
  • Analysis: `可乐` here is used as a general term for “cola” or sugary soft drinks, though it strongly implies Coke.
• Example 5:
  • 请给我一瓶零度可口可乐。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng gěi wǒ yī píng língdù Kěkǒukělè.
  • English: Please give me a bottle of Coke Zero.
  • Analysis: This shows how different product variations are named, often appending a descriptor to the brand name.
• Example 6:
  • 可口可乐的中文名字被认为是一个非常成功的翻译案例。
  • Pinyin: Kěkǒukělè de Zhōngwén míngzi bèi rènwéi shì yī ge fēicháng chénggōng de fānyì ànlì.
  • English: The Chinese name for Coca-Cola is considered a very successful case of translation.
  • Analysis: This sentence discusses the brand name itself in a meta-context, requiring the full four characters.
• Example 7:
  • 聚会的时候，我们买了很多零食和可乐。
  • Pinyin: Jùhuì de shíhou, wǒmen mǎi le hěn duō língshí hé kělè.
  • English: For the party, we bought a lot of snacks and Coke.
  • Analysis: A very common, casual usage of the short form in the context of socializing.
• Example 8:
  • 这家餐厅只卖百事可乐，不卖可口可乐。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā cāntīng zhǐ mài Bǎishìkělè, bù mài Kěkǒukělè.
  • English: This restaurant only sells Pepsi, not Coca-Cola.
  • Analysis: Another clear example of using the full and partial names to distinguish between brands.
• Example 9:
  • 有些人喜欢用可乐炖鸡翅，味道很特别。
  • Pinyin: Yǒu xiē rén xǐhuān yòng kělè dùn jīchì, wèidào hěn tèbié.
  • English: Some people like to use Coke to braise chicken wings; the flavor is very unique.
  • Analysis: This refers to a popular Chinese recipe, “Coke Chicken Wings,” where `可乐` is an ingredient.
• Example 10:
  • 可口可乐公司旗下还有雪碧和芬达等品牌。
  • Pinyin: Kěkǒukělè gōngsī qíxià hái yǒu Xuěbì hé Fēndá děng pǐnpái.
  • English: The Coca-Cola Company also owns brands like Sprite and Fanta.
  • Analysis: Here, the full name refers to the corporation, not just the drink.

• Don't Overthink the Meaning: While the literal meaning is “tasty and fun,” a native speaker ordering a `可乐` is not consciously thinking about that. They are simply thinking “Coke.” The brilliant meaning works on a subconscious, branding level, not in everyday transactional language.
• `可乐` as the Default: The most common mistake for learners is using the full four-character name in casual conversation. Remember that `可乐 (kělè)` is sufficient 95% of the time. Using `可口可乐` to order a drink can sound a bit overly formal or clunky, like saying “I would like to purchase one Coca-Cola carbonated soft drink.”
• The “Bite the Wax Tadpole” Myth: While the story of the terrible initial translation `蝌蝌啃蜡` is a fantastic and illustrative anecdote, be aware that its historical accuracy is debated. Some sources claim it was a potential option that was rejected, not a name that was ever actually used commercially. Regardless, it serves as the perfect cautionary tale for brand localization.

• 可乐 (kělè) - The common abbreviation for Coca-Cola, and the general term for “cola.”
• 百事可乐 (Bǎishìkělè) - Pepsi-Cola; the main competitor with an equally clever name (“Everything is Fun”).
• 汽水 (qìshuǐ) - The general term for soda or any carbonated soft drink.
• 雪碧 (Xuěbì) - Sprite. Another successful name from the Coca-Cola company, meaning “Snow Jade.”
• 芬达 (Fēndá) - Fanta. A purely phonetic translation.
• 零度可乐 (Língdù Kělè) - Coke Zero (literally “Zero Degree Cola”).
• 健怡可乐 (Jiànyí Kělè) - Diet Coke (literally “Healthy and Pleasant Cola”).
• 品牌 (pǐnpái) - Brand. `可口可乐` is a famous global `品牌`.
• 翻译 (fānyì) - Translation/to translate. This term is a perfect example of excellent `翻译`.
• 本土化 (běntǔhuà) - Localization. The process of adapting a product for a specific country or region.