Have you ever wondered how certain food and drink names in Chinese sound so similar to those of their English counterparts? That’s because they’re loanwords!
These borrowed terms are adapted phonetically to fit the Chinese language, making them both fun and easy to learn.
In this post, we’ll introduce 10 common food and drink loanwords, along with their Chinese writings, pinyin, pronunciation tips, and example sentences you can use right away.
Coffee 咖啡/咖啡
Coffee lovers, rejoice! The Chinese word for coffee, 咖啡 (kāfēi), mimics its English pronunciation closely.
However, make sure you pronounce 咖啡 in the Chineasy way. In other words, applying the correct tone, i.e., the first tone here—a steady, high-pitch tone—is important!
Here’s how you can use it in a sentence:
Example Sentence:
我每天喝咖啡。
Wǒ měitiān hē kāfēi.
I drink coffee every day.
Latte 拿鐵/拿铁
If you prefer a creamy latte, you’ll love its Chinese name, 拿鐵/拿铁 (nátiě), which closely matches its English pronunciation.
Make sure to pronounce ná (second tone, rising like a question) and tiě (third tone, low and deep) correctly to sound natural.
You can use it in daily conversation like this:
Example Sentence:
我喜歡喝拿鐵。(written in traditional Chinese characters)
我喜欢喝拿铁。(written in simplified Chinese characters)
Wǒ xǐhuān hē nátiě.
I like drinking lattes.
Cola 可樂/可乐
A fizzy favorite, 可樂/可乐 (kělè) refers to cola drinks such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi.
For clear pronunciation, use kě (third tone, low and deep) and lè (fourth tone, sharp and falling).
Example Sentence:
我要可樂。
我要可乐。
Wǒ yào kělè.
I want cola.
Champagne 香檳/香槟
香檳/香槟 (xiāngbīn), the word for champagne, is perfect for any celebration.
Both characters use the first tone, so keep your pitch steady and high throughout.
Example Sentence:
他們喝香檳慶祝。
他们喝香槟庆祝。
Tāmen hē xiāngbīn qìngzhù.
They drink champagne to celebrate.
Whiskey 威士忌/威士忌
Whiskey, translated as 威士忌/威士忌 (wēishìjì), is a straightforward phonetic adaptation.
To pronounce it naturally, start with wēi (first tone, steady and high), then shì (fourth tone, sharp and falling), and end with jì (fourth tone).
Example Sentence:
這是蘇格蘭威士忌。
这是苏格兰威士忌。
Zhè shì Sūgélán wēishìjì.
This is Scotch whiskey.
While we’ve covered several drink-related loanwords, Chinese also borrow words for food items from different languages. Let’s explore how some of your favorite global foods, like croissants and sushi, are expressed in Chinese!
Croissant 可頌/可颂
The buttery croissant, called 可頌/可颂 (kěsòng) in Chinese, is a popular breakfast treat.
The name 可頌/可颂 is borrowed from French as the “t” in “Croissant” isn’t pronounced in its Chinese counterpart.
Use the third tone for kě (low and deep) and the fourth tone for sòng (sharp and falling).
Example Sentence:
我早餐吃可頌。
我早餐吃可颂。
Wǒ zǎocān chī kěsòng.
I eat croissants for breakfast.
Bagel 貝果/贝果
Bagels—or 貝果/贝果 (bèiguǒ) in Chinese—are another breakfast go-to.
You might be tempted to pronounce the first syllable “bèi” in the fourth tone, like it’s written. But most Chinese people actually use the first tone. So, it sounds more like “bēiguǒ” than “bèiguǒ.”
The second syllable guǒ is pronounced like it’s written, in the third tone, low and deep.
Example Sentence:
你喜歡吃貝果嗎？
你喜欢吃贝果吗？
Nǐ xǐhuān chī bèiguǒ ma?
Do you like eating bagels?
Sushi 壽司/寿司
Let’s move on to something savory—sushi, the iconic Japanese dish. Loved worldwide, sushi has gained immense popularity in places like China, the UK, and the US.
In Chinese, the word for sushi is 壽司/寿司 (shòusī), a phonetic translation from its original Japanese name 寿司 (すし).
For accurate pronunciation, use shòu (fourth tone, sharp and falling) and sī (first tone, steady and high).
Example Sentence:
我們中午吃壽司。
我们中午吃寿司。
Wǒmen zhōngwǔ chī shòusī.
We are having sushi at noon.
Salad 沙拉/沙拉
A light and healthy choice, salad is another dish loved by many. The Chinese word for salad, 沙拉/沙拉 (shālā), sounds almost identical to its English counterpart.
Both characters use the first tone, keeping the pronunciation steady and high.
Example Sentence:
我今晚吃沙拉。
Wǒ jīnwǎn chī shālā.
I’m having salad tonight.
Pizza 披薩/披萨
Lastly, we have pizza, a dish cherished by people around the world. In Chinese, it’s translated as 披薩/披萨 (pīsà).
To pronounce it correctly, use pī (first tone, steady and high) and sà (fourth tone, sharp and falling).
Example Sentence:
大家都愛吃披薩。
大家都爱吃披萨。
Dàjiā dōu ài chī pīsà.
Everyone loves eating pizza.
Here you have it—10 Chinese loanwords related to food and drinks. Loanwords like these make it fun and simple to expand your Chinese vocabulary while recognizing familiar concepts.
The next time you order coffee, pizza, or even sushi, try using their Chinese terms to practice speaking naturally. Not only will you improve your language skills, but you’ll also impress your friends with your growing knowledge of these global favorites!
Photo credit: Unsplash
