noun HSK 3
milk tea · bubble tea
Meaning
Milk tea is a beverage made by combining tea (usually black or green) with milk and often sweetener. In modern Chinese culture, it especially refers to the popular Taiwanese-style bubble tea (珍珠奶茶) that has become a cultural phenomenon across Asia and beyond.
Usage
This is an extremely common everyday word, especially among younger generations. When ordering, people often specify the sweetness level (甜度) and ice amount (冰量). The term can refer to traditional Hong Kong-style milk tea or modern bubble tea shops.
Examples
- 01我每天下午都要喝一杯奶茶。.I have to drink a cup of milk tea every afternoon.
- 02这家奶茶店的珍珠奶茶特别好喝。.This milk tea shop's bubble tea is especially delicious.
Characters
Measure words
- 杯一杯奶茶
- 瓶一瓶奶茶
Common collocations
- 喝奶茶to drink milk tea
- 奶茶店milk tea shop, bubble tea store
- 一杯奶茶a cup of milk tea
- 点奶茶to order milk tea
Origin
A straightforward compound combining 奶 (milk) and 茶 (tea), describing the drink's two main ingredients. The beverage tradition comes from British colonial influence in Hong Kong and later innovations in Taiwan.