How to Say Water in Chinese
水
shuǐ
水 (shuǐ) is the Mandarin word for water.
Pronunciation and tones
Shuǐ has a third tone: low and dipping, with a rise when pronounced on its own. In connected speech it often stays low.
Two everyday examples
我想喝水。
Wǒ xiǎng hē shuǐ.
I want to drink water.
请给我一杯水。
Qǐng gěi wǒ yì bēi shuǐ.
Please give me a glass of water.
Usage and common mistakes
Use a container when ordering
一杯水 (yì bēi shuǐ) is a glass or cup of water. 一瓶水 (yì píng shuǐ) is a bottle of water.
Specify the temperature
水 alone does not specify temperature. Say 热水 (rè shuǐ) for hot water or 冰水 (bīng shuǐ) for ice water.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say water in Chinese?
Water is 水 (shuǐ) in Mandarin. It is pronounced with the third tone.
How do you ask for water politely?
Say 请给我一杯水 (qǐng gěi wǒ yì bēi shuǐ): please give me a glass of water.
What does 喝水 mean?
喝水 (hē shuǐ) means to drink water. 喝 (hē) is the verb to drink.