pútáojiǔ: 葡萄酒 - Wine

• Keywords: pútáojiǔ, 葡萄酒, Chinese word for wine, red wine in Chinese, white wine in Chinese, how to say wine in Mandarin, Chinese wine culture, Chinese alcohol, hóngjiǔ
• Summary: Learn how to say “wine” in Chinese with 葡萄酒 (pútáojiǔ). This guide breaks down the characters, explores the growing significance of wine in modern Chinese culture, and contrasts it with traditional spirits like `白酒 (báijiǔ)`. Discover how to order wine, give it as a gift, and use it in everyday conversation with practical examples, making it the perfect resource for any beginner learner interested in Chinese language and culture.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): pútáojiǔ
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: Wine, specifically wine made from grapes.
• In a Nutshell: 葡萄酒 (pútáojiǔ) is the most direct and accurate term for Western-style grape wine. While China has a thousands-year-old history of alcohol production, grape wine is a relatively modern but extremely popular beverage. It's associated with sophistication, international business, and celebratory meals, occupying a different social space than traditional Chinese liquors.

• 葡 (pú): This character almost never appears alone. It is the first half of the word for “grape.”
• 萄 (táo): The second character in the word for “grape.” The word 葡萄 (pútáo) is a classic example of a two-character word (a binome) where the individual characters don't carry the meaning on their own; they must be used together.
• 酒 (jiǔ): This character means “alcohol” or “liquor.” The radical on the left, `氵`, signifies water or liquid. The right side, `酉`, is a pictograph of an ancient wine vessel.

These characters combine in a very logical way: 葡萄 (pútáo - grapes) + 酒 (jiǔ - alcohol) = 葡萄酒 (pútáojiǔ - grape alcohol, i.e., wine).

While China has ancient alcoholic beverages like 黄酒 (huángjiǔ - “yellow wine”) and the famously potent 白酒 (báijiǔ - “white spirit”), Western-style grape wine (葡萄酒) has a different cultural role. `葡萄酒` is largely seen as a modern, sophisticated, and international drink. Its rise in popularity mirrors China's economic opening and the growth of its urban middle and upper classes. Unlike `白酒`, which is central to traditional, often boisterous banquets and a culture of high-pressure toasting (`干杯 gānbēi`), `葡萄酒` is more associated with:

• Fine Dining & Romance: It's the drink of choice for dates or meals at Western or high-end Chinese restaurants.
• International Business: Serving good French or Italian wine at a business dinner is a sign of respect and worldliness when hosting foreign partners.
• Health Consciousness: There's a popular belief in China, mirroring the West, that a daily glass of red wine offers health benefits, making it more appealing to some than hard liquor.
• Gift-Giving: A bottle of imported red wine is a very common and well-respected gift for holidays, business associates, or visiting someone's home. It conveys taste and generosity.

In short, while `白酒` might be for bonding with “brothers” through intense toasting, `葡萄酒` is for demonstrating sophistication, celebrating a special occasion, or conducting international business.

`葡萄酒` is a common term in both formal and informal settings, although in casual conversation, people often shorten it.

• Ordering in a Restaurant: You will see 葡萄酒 on menus, often divided into 红葡萄酒 (hóng pútáojiǔ - red wine) and 白葡萄酒 (bái pútáojiǔ - white wine).
• Social Conversation: People discuss wine by its country of origin (e.g., 法国葡萄酒 - Fǎguó pútáojiǔ, French wine) or its taste.
• Colloquial Usage: In everyday speech, it's very common for people to simply say 红酒 (hóngjiǔ - “red wine”) as a general term for all grape wine, even if they are referring to white wine. This is similar to how an English speaker might say “let's grab a beer” as a general invitation for a drink.

• Example 1:
  • 你想喝红葡萄酒还是白葡萄酒？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ xiǎng hē hóng pútáojiǔ háishì bái pútáojiǔ?
  • English: Would you like to drink red wine or white wine?
  • Analysis: A very common question in a restaurant or at a party. The `还是 (háishì)` structure is used to present an “A or B” choice in a question.
• Example 2:
  • 这瓶法国葡萄酒是送给您的礼物。
  • Pinyin: Zhè píng Fǎguó pútáojiǔ shì sòng gěi nín de lǐwù.
  • English: This bottle of French wine is a gift for you.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the use of wine in gift-giving culture. `送给您 (sòng gěi nín)` is a polite way of saying “to give to you.”
• Example 3:
  • 服务员，请给我一杯葡萄酒。
  • Pinyin: Fúwùyuán, qǐng gěi wǒ yī bēi pútáojiǔ.
  • English: Waiter, please give me a glass of wine.
  • Analysis: A straightforward and practical sentence for ordering. `一杯 (yī bēi)` means “one glass.” For a bottle, you would say `一瓶 (yī píng)`.
• Example 4:
  • 我觉得这款葡萄酒的口感很好。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ juédé zhè kuǎn pútáojiǔ de kǒugǎn hěn hǎo.
  • English: I think this wine has a great mouthfeel/taste.
  • Analysis: `款 (kuǎn)` is a measure word for styles or types of products, including wine. `口感 (kǒugǎn)` is a key vocabulary word that means “mouthfeel” or texture, very important when discussing food and drink.
• Example 5:
  • 我们用葡萄酒干杯，庆祝一下！
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen yòng pútáojiǔ gānbēi, qìngzhù yīxià!
  • English: Let's toast with wine to celebrate!
  • Analysis: `用 (yòng)` means “to use.” This sentence shows that while `干杯 (gānbēi)` is most famously associated with `白酒`, it's used with any alcoholic beverage.
• Example 6:
  • 中国现在也生产很多不错的葡萄酒。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngguó xiànzài yě shēngchǎn hěn duō bùcuò de pútáojiǔ.
  • English: China now also produces a lot of pretty good wine.
  • Analysis: This reflects the reality of China's growing domestic wine industry in regions like Ningxia and Shandong. `不错 (bùcuò)` is a common way to say “not bad” or “pretty good.”
• Example 7:
  • 他对葡萄酒很有研究。
  • Pinyin: Tā duì pútáojiǔ hěn yǒu yánjiū.
  • English: He has studied wine a lot / He knows a lot about wine.
  • Analysis: The structure `对 (duì) … 很有研究 (hěn yǒu yánjiū)` means “to have deep knowledge of…” or “to have researched…” something.
• Example 8:
  • 有人说，每天喝一点红葡萄酒对心脏好。
  • Pinyin: Yǒurén shuō, měitiān hē yīdiǎn hóng pútáojiǔ duì xīnzàng hǎo.
  • English: Some people say that drinking a little red wine every day is good for the heart.
  • Analysis: A common topic of conversation related to health. The `对 (duì) … 好 (hǎo)` structure means “is good for…”
• Example 9:
  • 这家餐厅的葡萄酒单很丰富。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā cāntīng de pútáojiǔ dān hěn fēngfù.
  • English: This restaurant's wine list is very extensive.
  • Analysis: `葡萄酒单 (pútáojiǔ dān)` literally means “wine list.” `丰富 (fēngfù)` means rich, abundant, or extensive.
• Example 10:
  • 我不太懂葡萄酒，你能帮我推荐一款吗？
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bù tài dǒng pútáojiǔ, nǐ néng bāng wǒ tuījiàn yī kuǎn ma?
  • English: I don't know much about wine, can you help me recommend one?
  • Analysis: A very useful phrase when you're not a wine expert. `推荐 (tuījiàn)` means “to recommend.”

• `葡萄酒` vs. `酒 (jiǔ)`: This is the most critical distinction. `酒 (jiǔ)` is the general word for “alcohol.” If you go to a traditional restaurant and ask for `一瓶酒 (yī píng jiǔ)`, you will most likely get a bottle of `白酒 (báijiǔ)` or `啤酒 (píjiǔ)`, not wine. You must be specific and say `葡萄酒` if you want grape wine.
• `葡萄酒` vs. `红酒 (hóngjiǔ)`: As mentioned earlier, `红酒 (hóngjiǔ)` literally means “red wine.” However, in casual, spoken Chinese, it's often used as a synonym for `葡萄酒` in general.
  • Correct but formal/specific: `我想喝葡萄酒。` (I want to drink wine.)
  • Correct and very common/casual: `我们喝点红酒吗？` (Shall we drink some wine?) - Even if you end up choosing a white wine, this is a natural way to make the suggestion.
  • Mistake to Avoid: Don't use `酒` alone when you specifically want wine.

• 红酒 (hóngjiǔ) - Red wine. Also used colloquially as a general term for wine.
• 白葡萄酒 (bái pútáojiǔ) - White wine. Unlike red wine, this is rarely shortened.
• 白酒 (báijiǔ) - A strong, clear Chinese spirit distilled from sorghum or other grains. The traditional celebratory liquor.
• 啤酒 (píjiǔ) - Beer.
• 干杯 (gānbēi) - “Cheers!” or “Bottoms up!” A fundamental part of Chinese drinking culture.
• 葡萄 (pútáo) - Grapes. The base ingredient of `葡萄酒`.
• 酒 (jiǔ) - The general character and term for any alcoholic beverage.
• 香槟 (xiāngbīn) - Champagne. A phonetic loanword.
• 酒庄 (jiǔzhuāng) - A winery, vineyard, or wine estate.
• 口感 (kǒugǎn) - Mouthfeel, texture, taste. Essential for describing any food or drink.